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SKILL.mdagentsreferences

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/ci-cd:cmake

Download cmake-skill.zip

This skill is bundled inside ci-cd. Install the plugin once, then Claude Code can use any of its included skills. Browse the full plugin repository at github.com/alisonaquinas/llm-ci-dev.

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.

CMake

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