Question 1

How do I remove the Boost dependency in this minimal CMake example?

Accepted Answer

Simply comment out or delete the find_package and target_link_libraries lines related to Boost in the CMakeLists.txt file, as the README suggests, to run the example without external libraries.

Question 2

Is this minimal CMake example better than official tutorials for beginners?

Accepted Answer

It's more focused and practical for quick starts, avoiding CMake's complexity, but it lacks depth on advanced topics, so it's best used as a supplement to official resources for a holistic understanding.

Question 3

Can I use a single CMakeLists.txt file for a large C++ project?

Accepted Answer

While this example promotes single-file simplicity, large projects often require multiple CMakeLists.txt files for modularity and maintainability, as a single file can become unwieldy with many components.

Question 4

How to add more dependencies like libraries in this setup?

Accepted Answer

Extend the example by adding additional find_package commands and linking them to your targets, similar to the Boost example, but be cautious of dependency order and conflicts in more complex scenarios.

Question 5

What are the drawbacks of avoiding generated configuration headers in CMake?

Accepted Answer

As the README argues, it reduces complexity, but configuration headers are useful for platform-specific code or feature toggles; avoiding them might limit flexibility in projects that need such dynamic builds.

Question 6

Minimal CMake vs. modern CMake practices: which should I learn?

Accepted Answer

Start with minimal examples like this for basics, but transition to modern CMake with target-based design for production code, as it offers better dependency management and scalability, though it has a steeper curve.

minimal_cmake_example

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