Compiling SFML program with CMake on windows

[Ryngetsu]

Hello,

For the past few days I've been searching everywhere and can't seem to fix this problem or maybe I just didn't understand some answers.

I have an application (a game to be precise) built with SFML that I managed to compile on Linux with 2.4.2 version. I want to migrate to 2.5.1 and be able to compile on Windows so I changed the CMakeLists.txt file to this:

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cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.0)

# There is no real need for C++17 or 14, but I like to use up-to-date versions
if(CMAKE_MAJOR_VERSION VERSION_GREATER 3.8.0)
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
else()
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 14)
endif(CMAKE_MAJOR_VERSION VERSION_GREATER 3.8.0)

if (WIN32)
set(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Binaries/)
endif(WIN32)

# Includes
include_directories(include)

# Source files
set(SOURCE_FILES
    source/main.cpp
    source/Game.cpp
)

# Assets
set(ASSETS
    assets/Fonts/xolonium.ttf
)

# Debug Mode
project(HexDebug VERSION 1.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE DEBUG) # This is ignored by MSVC

#SFML Package
find_package(SFML 2.5 CONFIG COMPONENTS system window graphics network audio REQUIRED)
if(SFML_FOUND)
set(SFML_STATIC_LIBRARIES TRUE)
if(WIN32)
set(SFML_USE_STATIC_STD_LIBS TRUE)
endif(WIN32)
endif(SFML_FOUND)

if(UNIX)
set(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Binaries/Debug/)
endif(UNIX)

foreach(asset ${ASSETS})
    configure_file(${asset} ${CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY}/${asset} COPYONLY)
endforeach(asset)

add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${SOURCE_FILES})
target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE -g -Wall -O0 -D_DEBUG)
if(SFML_FOUND)
target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} sfml-system sfml-window sfml-graphics sfml-network sfml-audio)
endif(SFML_FOUND)

#Release Mode
project(Hex VERSION 1.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE RELEASE) # This is ignored by MSVC

if(UNIX)
set(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Binaries/Release/)
endif(UNIX)

foreach(asset ${ASSETS})
    configure_file(${asset} ${CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY}/${asset} COPYONLY)
endforeach(asset)

add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${SOURCE_FILES})
target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE "-O3")
if(SFML_FOUND)
target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} sfml-system sfml-window sfml-graphics sfml-network sfml-audio)
endif(SFML_FOUND)

The cmake works and generates the VS solution, that I can build with msbuild (note that I don't want to launch Visual Studio, but only use msbuild). But once I try to run it, it asks for dlls and I don't want that.

I thought that would be solved by linking statically (I don't know much about static or dynamic linking) but it still asks for them.

How can I avoid that? I want to be completely independant from DLL's or at least be able to include the bin directory installed from SFML compiled and installed binaries (that I compiled, not the precompiled).

Thank you.

[AlexAUT]

target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} sfml-system sfml-window sfml-graphics sfml-network sfml-audio)

You should link the sfml-*-s targets and define the symbol SFML_STATIC to get static linkage.

set(SFML_USE_STATIC_STD_LIBS TRUE)

I think this has no effect (cmake should give you a warning), since SFML is already compiled and therefore you cannot change this behavior afterwards.


AlexAUT

[Laurent]

You should link the sfml-*-s targets and define the symbol SFML_STATIC to get static linkage.

In CMake this is done with set(SFML_STATIC_LIBRARIES TRUE), but it must be called before find_package(SFML).

I think this has no effect (cmake should give you a warning)

Indeed, but no warning from CMake, this is creating a (useless) variable and is thus perfectly valid

[Ryngetsu]

With set(SFML_STATIC_LIBRARIES TRUE), SFML_FOUND is set to false and I cannot go on.

Is there a CMake variable referencing to the bin directory where dll's are located so I can copy paste each of them with cmake?

[Laurent]

With set(SFML_STATIC_LIBRARIES TRUE), SFML_FOUND is set to false and I cannot go on.

Do you have the static libraries in your SFML folder? Did you download it, or build it?

Is there a CMake variable referencing to the bin directory where dll's are located so I can copy paste each of them with cmake?

I don't think so. Maybe with some tricks, using one of the provided paths. Anyway, all you have to know is explained there.

[Ryngetsu]

That is another question I have, how do I build the static libraries?

Then how can I automatically copy paster the dll's into the executable directory?

[Laurent]

how do I build the static libraries?

It is explained in the tutorial about building SFML

Then how can I automatically copy paster the dll's into the executable directory?

Have you tried something, based on what I said?

[Ryngetsu]

I didn't see the part about BUIL_SHARED_LIBS, thank you it's now working.

Have you tried something, based on what I said?

I tried using ${SOME_PATH}\..\.. but it doesn't work. Anyway now I'm using the static libs so no need to do that.

It's now working
Thank you for your help.