cmake

Files

SKILL.mdagentsreferences

Install

Install only this skill with npx skills

npx skills add alisonaquinas/llm-ci-dev --skill 'cmake' -g -y

Install the containing skill bundle

/plugin install ci-cd@llm-skills

Download cmake-skill.zip

This skill is bundled inside ci-cd. Use npx skills when you only want this skill, or install the bundle once to make every included skill available through the plugin marketplace flow. Browse the full skill bundle repository at github.com/alisonaquinas/llm-ci-dev.

Invoke

Invoke this skill after installation

/ci-cd:cmake

SKILL.md

name: cmake description: Configure and build C/C++ projects with CMake. Use when tasks mention cmake commands, CMakeLists.txt, build configuration, generators, or cross-platform C/C++ builds.

Intent Router

Request	Reference	Load When
Install tool, first-time setup	`references/install-and-setup.md`	Install or verify CMake
CMakeLists.txt, targets, find_package	`references/cmakelists.md`	Write or debug CMakeLists.txt
CLI commands, configure, build, test	`references/command-cookbook.md`	Run cmake or ctest commands
Build types, generators, presets	`references/build-types-and-generators.md`	Select build type or generator

Quick Start

# Configure (out-of-source — ALWAYS use -B, never cmake . in source root)
cmake -S . -B build

# Build
cmake --build build

# Run tests
ctest --test-dir build

# Install
cmake --install build --prefix /usr/local

Core Command Tracks

Configure: cmake -S . -B build — generates build system in build/
Set build type: cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
Build: cmake --build build — invokes the underlying build tool
Specific target: cmake --build build --target <target>
Test: ctest --test-dir build — runs registered tests
Install: cmake --install build --prefix /usr/local
Use preset: cmake --preset <name> — reads from CMakePresets.json
List cache: cmake -L build — show all cache variables

Safety Guardrails

Always build out-of-source using -B build — never run cmake . in the source root as it contaminates the source tree with generated files.
Clean a build by deleting the build/ directory; running cmake --build build --clean-first rebuilds without reconfiguring.
Use --dry-run with install to preview what gets installed before committing.
Commit CMakePresets.json for reproducible configurations, but add build/ to .gitignore.
Pin cmake_minimum_required(VERSION X.Y) to avoid behavior changes across CMake versions.

# Troubleshoot a broken build: clean and reconfigure with verbose output
rm -rf build
cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
cmake --build build --verbose 2>&1 | tail -20

Related Skills

make — GNU Make, often the underlying build tool used by CMake's Unix Makefiles generator
ci-architecture — integrating CMake builds into CI/CD pipelines

References

references/install-and-setup.md
references/cmakelists.md
references/command-cookbook.md
references/build-types-and-generators.md
Official docs: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/
CMake tutorial: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/guide/tutorial/index.html
CMakePresets reference: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-presets.7.html