add_executable — CMake 3.26.4 Documentation

# add_executable

Add an executable to the project using the specified source files.

## Normal Executables

    add_executable(<name> [WIN32] [MACOSX_BUNDLE]
                   [EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL]
                   [source1] [source2 ...])

Adds an executable target called `<name>` to be built from the source files listed in the command invocation. The `<name>` corresponds to the logical target name and must be globally unique within a project. The actual file name of the executable built is constructed based on conventions of the native platform (such as `<name>.exe` or just `<name>`).

New in version 3.1: Source arguments to `add_executable` may use "generator expressions" with the syntax `$<...>`. See the `cmake-generator-expressions(7)` manual for available expressions.

New in version 3.11: The source files can be omitted if they are added later using `target_sources()`.

By default the executable file will be created in the build tree directory corresponding to the source tree directory in which the command was invoked. See documentation of the `RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY` target property to change this location. See documentation of the `OUTPUT_NAME` target property to change the `<name>` part of the final file name.

If `WIN32` is given the property `WIN32_EXECUTABLE` will be set on the target created. See documentation of that target property for details.

If `MACOSX_BUNDLE` is given the corresponding property will be set on the created target. See documentation of the `MACOSX_BUNDLE` target property for details.

If `EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL` is given the corresponding property will be set on the created target. See documentation of the `EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL` target property for details.

See the `cmake-buildsystem(7)` manual for more on defining buildsystem properties.

See also `HEADER_FILE_ONLY` on what to do if some sources are pre-processed, and you want to have the original sources reachable from within IDE.

## Imported Executables

    add_executable(<name> IMPORTED [GLOBAL])

An IMPORTED executable target references an executable file located outside the project. No rules are generated to build it, and the `IMPORTED` target property is `True`. The target name has scope in the directory in which it is created and below, but the `GLOBAL` option extends visibility. It may be referenced like any target built within the project. `IMPORTED` executables are useful for convenient reference from commands like `add_custom_command()`. Details about the imported executable are specified by setting properties whose names begin in `IMPORTED_`. The most important such property is `IMPORTED_LOCATION` (and its per-configuration version `IMPORTED_LOCATION_<CONFIG>`) which specifies the location of the main executable file on disk. See documentation of the `IMPORTED_*` properties for more information.

## Alias Executables

    add_executable(<name> ALIAS <target>)

Creates an Alias Target, such that `<name>` can be used to refer to `<target>` in subsequent commands. The `<name>` does not appear in the generated buildsystem as a make target. The `<target>` may not be an `ALIAS`.

New in version 3.11: An `ALIAS` can target a `GLOBAL` Imported Target

New in version 3.18: An `ALIAS` can target a non-`GLOBAL` Imported Target. Such alias is scoped to the directory in which it is created and subdirectories. The `ALIAS_GLOBAL` target property can be used to check if the alias is global or not.

`ALIAS` targets can be used as targets to read properties from, executables for custom commands and custom targets. They can also be tested for existence with the regular `if(TARGET)` subcommand. The `<name>` may not be used to modify properties of `<target>`, that is, it may not be used as the operand of `set_property()`, `set_target_properties()`, `target_link_libraries()` etc. An `ALIAS` target may not be installed or exported.

## See Also

- `add_library()`