Instructor’s guide

Learning outcomes

Write a CMake build system for C, C++, and Fortran projects producing libraries and/or executables.
Run tests for your code with CTest.
Ensure your build system will work on different platforms.
Detect and use external dependencies in your project.
Safely and effectively build mixed-language projects (Python+C/C++, Python+Fortran, Fortran+C/C++)

We decided to:

Move the Detecting your environment episode under the “Additional topics” header. We had to skip due to lack of time in the previous iteration.

Day 1 - Thursday 1 September 2022

9:00 - 9:10	Welcome and introduction to the training course
9:10 - 9:40	From sources to executables
9:40 - 9:45	Break
9:45 - 10:25	CMake syntax
10:25 - 10:35	Break
10:35 - 11:15	Creating and running tests with CTest
11:15 - 11:25	Break
11:25 - 12:05	Probing compilation, linking, and execution
12:05 - 12:10	Break
12:10 - 12:30	Wrap-up

Day 2 - Friday 2 September 2022

9:00 - 9:10	What did we cover yesterday?
9:10 - 9:50	Target-based build systems with CMake
9:50 - 10:00	Break
10:00 - 10:30	Finding and using dependencies
10:30 - 10:35	Break
10:35 - 11:15	Automated dependency handling with FetchContent
11:15 - 11:25	Break
11:25 - 12:00	Mixing Python and compiled languages
12:00 - 12:10	Break
12:10 - 12:30	Using CMake: tips and tricks
12:30 - 13:00	Using CMake: tips and tricks

We decided to:

Move the Mixing C++ and Fortran episode to an “Additional topics” section.
Add the separate episode Mixing Python and compiled languages to show how to manage Python+compiled language projects.
Add the Using CMake: tips and tricks episode to summarize best practices. It was adapted from the CodeRefinery fork of this lesson: https://coderefinery.github.io/cmake-workshop/growing-projects/#growing-projects

Day 1 - Monday 29 November 2021

The flow in CMake syntax was not great due to the fact that I (@robertodr) had not double-checked carefully after rearranging the exercises.
We had to skip the Detecting your environment episode due to lack of time. This will be moved to “Additional topics” in the next iterations.

9:00 - 9:10	Welcome and introduction to the training course
9:10 - 9:40	From sources to executables
9:40 - 9:45	Break
9:45 - 10:15	CMake syntax
10:15 - 10:25	Break
10:25 - 10:55	Creating and running tests with CTest
10:55 - 11:00	Break
11:00 - 11:30	Detecting your environment
11:30 - 11:40	Break
11:40 - 12:10	Probing compilation, linking, and execution
12:10 - 12:15	Break
12:15 - 12:30	Wrap-up

Day 2 - Tuesday 30 November 2021

9:00 - 9:10	What did we cover yesterday?
9:10 - 9:50	Target-based build systems with CMake
9:50 - 10:00	Break
10:00 - 10:40	Finding and using dependencies
10:40 - 10:50	Break
10:50 - 11:30	Automated dependency handling with FetchContent
11:30 - 11:40	Break
11:40 - 12:10	Mixing Python and compiled languages
12:10 - 12:15	Break
12:15 - 12:45	Using CMake: tips and tricks
12:45 - 13:00	Wrap-up

Day 1 - Tuesday 9 February 2021

9:00 - 9:10	Welcome and introduction to the training course
9:10 - 9:40	From sources to executables
9:40 - 9:45	Break
9:45 - 10:15	CMake syntax
10:15 - 10:25	Break
10:25 - 10:55	Creating and running tests with CTest
10:55 - 11:00	Break
11:00 - 11:30	Detecting your environment
11:30 - 11:40	Break
11:40 - 12:10	Probing compilation, linking, and execution
12:10 - 12:15	Break
12:15 - 12:30	Wrap-up

Day 2 - Wednesday 10 February 2021

We allocated 40 minutes to each of the Target-based build systems with CMake, Finding and using dependencies, Mixing C++ and Fortran episodes, with short breaks during the exercises in the breakout rooms. The Automated dependency handling with FetchContent episode can be skipped in case contents from Day 1 spill over to Day 2.

9:00 - 9:10	What did we cover yesterday?
9:10 - 9:50	Target-based build systems with CMake
9:50 - 10:00	Break
10:00 - 10:40	Finding and using dependencies
10:40 - 10:50	Break
10:50 - 11:30	Mixing C++ and Fortran
11:30 - 11:40	Break
11:40 - 12:10	Automated dependency handling with FetchContent
12:10 - 12:15	Break
12:15 - 12:30	Wrap-up