CMake How to access headers and source files in a different folder - cmake

Question

I have a code repository like image below. I'm trying to add a new standalone executable. The main.cpp and CMakeLists.txt files are located in folder4 and main.cpp requires code from folder3.
At the moment I'm using:
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
# set the project name
project(Standalone)
# add the executable
add_executable(StandaloneExe main.cpp)
Should I now use file( GLOB SRCS *.cpp *.h ) to retrieve the headers and source files from folder3?
I just want the simplest way of generating this executable.

Answer 1

Should I now use file( GLOB SRCS *.cpp *.h ) to retrieve the headers and source files from folder3?
No, you should never use GLOB to get sources. See my answer here for more detail: https://stackoverflow.com/a/65191951/2137996
I just want the simplest way of generating this executable.
Put your CMakeLists.txt in the root instead. Then just write:
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
# set the project name
project(Standalone)
# add the executable
add_executable(
StandaloneExe
folder2/folder4/main.cpp
folder1/folder3/a.cpp
folder1/folder3/b.cpp
)
# Might need this, maybe not, depending on your includes
target_include_directories(
StandaloneExe
PRIVATE
"${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/folder1/folder3"
)
If you absolutely cannot move your lists file, then you can use absolute paths:
add_executable(
StandaloneExe
${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../../folder2/folder4/main.cpp
${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../../folder1/folder3/a.cpp
${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../../folder1/folder3/b.cpp
)