[cmake][array][vs] Trying develop and test a single library

From: Mateusz Loskot (mateusz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2020-03-27 21:52:06

Hi,

I'm learning about the boostorg/cmake infrastructure offered by Peter.

I picked Boost.Array as a library with simple build setup.
I replaced the existing (hand-rolled?) CMakeLists.txt files
with the generated ones:

b2 tools\boostdep\build
dist\bin\boostdep.exe --cmake array

Then, learning form boostorg/cmake itself how to use it
https://github.com/boostorg/cmake/blob/develop/.travis.yml#L228

cd BOOST_ROOT
mkdir __build__ && cd __build__
cmake -DBOOST_ENABLE_CMAKE=1 -DBoost_VERBOSE=ON
-DBOOST_INCLUDE_LIBRARIES=array ..
cmake --build .
ctest --output-on-failure -R boost_array

Visual Studio solution is nicely generated, all expected .vcxproj files too,
but, AFAICT, neither the last two commands nor these do anything:

cmake --build . --config Release
cmake --build . --config Debug

I loaded the Boost.sln in VS 2019 and Build > Build Solution worked.
I also noticed this 'unusual' project-as-target called check.
I'm back in the CLI mode and run:

cmake --build . --target check

this time all the tests build and run.

Interestingly, if I feed the ctest with the build configuration,
then it also builds the tests, and runs them too, of course:

ctest --output-on-failure -R boost_array -C Release
ctest --output-on-failure -R boost_array -C Debug

Is this `cmake --build .` doing nothing specific Boost.CMake?
Is that `check` target supposed to be used explicitly?

Best regards,
-- 
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net