Building with CMake
This document describes how to configure, build and install curl and libcurl
from source code using the CMake build tool. To build with CMake, you of
course first have to install CMake. The minimum required version of CMake is
specified in the file CMakeLists.txt found in the top of the curl source
tree. Once the correct version of CMake is installed you can follow the
instructions below for the platform you are building on.
CMake builds can be configured either from the command line, or from one of CMake's GUIs.
Configuring
A CMake configuration of curl is similar to the autotools build of curl. It consists of the following steps after you have unpacked the source.
Using cmake
You can configure for in source tree builds or for a build tree that is apart from the source tree.
Build in the source tree.
$ cmake -B .Build in a separate directory (parallel to the curl source tree in this example). The build directory is created for you.
$ cmake -B ../curl-build
Fallback for CMake before version 3.13
CMake before version 3.13 does not support the -B option. In that case,
you must create the build directory yourself, cd to it and run cmake
from there:
$ mkdir ../curl-build
$ cd ../curl-build
$ cmake ../curl
If you want to build in the source tree, it is enough to do this:
$ cmake .
Build system generator selection
You can override CMake's default by using -G <generator-name>. For example
on Windows with multiple build systems if you have MinGW-w64 then you could use
-G "MinGW Makefiles".
List of generator names.
Using ccmake
CMake comes with a curses based interface called ccmake. To run ccmake
on a curl use the instructions for the command line cmake, but substitute
ccmake for cmake.
This brings up a curses interface with instructions on the bottom of the screen. You can press the "c" key to configure the project, and the "g" key to generate the project. After the project is generated, you can run make.
Using cmake-gui
CMake also comes with a Qt based GUI called cmake-gui. To configure with
cmake-gui, you run cmake-gui and follow these steps:
- Fill in the "Where is the source code" combo box with the path to the curl source tree.
- Fill in the "Where to build the binaries" combo box with the path to the directory for your build tree, ideally this should not be the same as the source tree, but a parallel directory called curl-build or something similar.
- Once the source and binary directories are specified, press the "Configure" button.
- Select the native build tool that you want to use.
- At this point you can change any of the options presented in the GUI. Once you have selected all the options you want, click the "Generate" button.
Building
Build (you have to specify the build directory).
$ cmake --build ../curl-build
Static builds
The CMake build setup is primarily done to work with shared/dynamic third party dependencies. When linking with shared libraries, the dependency "chain" is handled automatically by the library loader - on all modern systems.
If you instead link with a static library, you need to provide all the dependency libraries already at the link command line.
Figuring out all the dependency libraries for a given library is hard, as it might involve figuring out the dependencies of the dependencies and they vary between platforms and can change between versions.
When using static dependencies, the build scripts mostly assume that you, the user, provide all the necessary additional dependency libraries as additional arguments in the build.
Building statically is not for the faint of heart.
Fallback for CMake before version 3.13
CMake before version 3.13 does not support the --build option. In that
case, you have to cd to the build directory and use the building tool that
corresponds to the build files that CMake generated for you. This example
assumes that CMake generates Makefile:
$ cd ../curl-build
$ make
Testing
(The test suite does not yet work with the cmake build)
Installing
Install to default location (you have to specify the build directory).
$ cmake --install ../curl-build
Fallback for CMake before version 3.15
CMake before version 3.15 does not support the --install option. In that
case, you have to cd to the build directory and use the building tool that
corresponds to the build files that CMake generated for you. This example
assumes that CMake generates Makefile:
$ cd ../curl-build
$ make install
CMake build options
BUILD_CURL_EXE: Build curl executable. Default:ONBUILD_EXAMPLES: Build libcurl examples. Default:ONBUILD_LIBCURL_DOCS: Build libcurl man pages. Default:ONBUILD_MISC_DOCS: Build misc man pages (e.g.curl-configandmk-ca-bundle). Default:ONBUILD_SHARED_LIBS: Build shared libraries. Default:ONBUILD_STATIC_CURL: Build curl executable with static libcurl. Default:OFFBUILD_STATIC_LIBS: Build static libraries. Default:OFFBUILD_TESTING: Build tests. Default:ONCURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND: Override default TLS backend in MultiSSL builds. Accepted values in order of default priority:wolfssl,gnutls,mbedtls,openssl,secure-transport,schannel,bearssl,rustlsCURL_ENABLE_EXPORT_TARGET: Enable CMake export target. Default:ONCURL_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS: Hide libcurl internal symbols (=hide all symbols that are not officially external). Default:ONCURL_LIBCURL_SOVERSION: Enable libcurl SOVERSION. Default:ONfor supported platformsCURL_LIBCURL_VERSIONED_SYMBOLS: Enable libcurl versioned symbols. Default:OFFCURL_LIBCURL_VERSIONED_SYMBOLS_PREFIX: Override default versioned symbol prefix. Default:<TLS-BACKEND>_orMULTISSL_CURL_LTO: Enable compiler Link Time Optimizations. Default:OFFCURL_STATIC_CRT: Build libcurl with static CRT with MSVC (/MT). Default:OFFCURL_TARGET_WINDOWS_VERSION: Minimum target Windows version as hex string.CURL_TEST_BUNDLES: Bundlelibtestandunittesttests into single binaries. Default:OFFCURL_WERROR: Turn compiler warnings into errors. Default:OFFENABLE_CURLDEBUG: Enable TrackMemory debug feature: Default: =ENABLE_DEBUGENABLE_CURL_MANUAL: Build the man page for curl and enable its-M/--manualoption. Default:ONENABLE_DEBUG: Enable curl debug features (for developing curl itself). Default:OFFIMPORT_LIB_SUFFIX: Import library suffix. Default:_impLIBCURL_OUTPUT_NAME: Basename of the curl library. Default:libcurlPICKY_COMPILER: Enable picky compiler options. Default:ONSTATIC_LIB_SUFFIX: Static library suffix. Default: (empty)
CA bundle options
CURL_CA_BUNDLE: Path to the CA bundle. Setnoneto disable orautofor auto-detection. Default:autoCURL_CA_EMBED: Path to the CA bundle to embed in the curl tool. Default: (disabled)CURL_CA_FALLBACK: Use built-in CA store of TLS backend. Default:OFFCURL_CA_PATH: Location of default CA path. Setnoneto disable orautofor auto-detection. Default:autoCURL_CA_SEARCH_SAFE: Enable safe CA bundle search (within the curl tool directory) on Windows. Default:OFF
Enabling features
CURL_ENABLE_SSL: Enable SSL support. Default:ONCURL_WINDOWS_SSPI: Enable SSPI on Windows. Default: =CURL_USE_SCHANNELENABLE_IPV6: Enable IPv6 support. Default:ONENABLE_THREADED_RESOLVER: Enable threaded DNS lookup. Default:ONif c-ares is not enabledENABLE_UNICODE: Use the Unicode version of the Windows API functions. Default:OFFENABLE_UNIX_SOCKETS: Enable Unix domain sockets support. Default:ONUSE_ECH: Enable ECH support. Default:OFFUSE_HTTPSRR: Enable HTTPS RR support. Default:OFFUSE_OPENSSL_QUIC: Use OpenSSL and nghttp3 libraries for HTTP/3 support. Default:OFF
Disabling features
CURL_DISABLE_ALTSVC: Disable alt-svc support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_AWS: Disable aws-sigv4. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_BASIC_AUTH: Disable Basic authentication. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_BEARER_AUTH: Disable Bearer authentication. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_BINDLOCAL: Disable local binding support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_CA_SEARCH: Disable unsafe CA bundle search in PATH on Windows. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_COOKIES: Disable cookies support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_DICT: Disable DICT. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_DIGEST_AUTH: Disable Digest authentication. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_DOH: Disable DNS-over-HTTPS. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_FILE: Disable FILE. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_FORM_API: Disable form-api: Default: =CURL_DISABLE_MIMECURL_DISABLE_FTP: Disable FTP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_GETOPTIONS: Disablecurl_easy_optionsAPI for existing options tocurl_easy_setopt. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_GOPHER: Disable Gopher. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_HEADERS_API: Disable headers-api support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_HSTS: Disable HSTS support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_HTTP: Disable HTTP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_HTTP_AUTH: Disable all HTTP authentication methods. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_IMAP: Disable IMAP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_INSTALL: Disable installation targets. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_IPFS: Disable IPFS. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_KERBEROS_AUTH: Disable Kerberos authentication. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_LDAP: Disable LDAP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_LDAPS: Disable LDAPS. Default: =CURL_DISABLE_LDAPCURL_DISABLE_LIBCURL_OPTION: Disable--libcurloption from the curl tool. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_MIME: Disable MIME support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_MQTT: Disable MQTT. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_NEGOTIATE_AUTH: Disable negotiate authentication. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_NETRC: Disable netrc parser. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_NTLM: Disable NTLM support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_OPENSSL_AUTO_LOAD_CONFIG: Disable automatic loading of OpenSSL configuration. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_PARSEDATE: Disable date parsing. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_POP3: Disable POP3. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_PROGRESS_METER: Disable built-in progress meter. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_PROXY: Disable proxy support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_RTSP: Disable RTSP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_SHA512_256: Disable SHA-512/256 hash algorithm. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_SHUFFLE_DNS: Disable shuffle DNS feature. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_SMB: Disable SMB. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_SMTP: Disable SMTP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_SOCKETPAIR: Disable use of socketpair for curl_multi_poll. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_SRP: Disable TLS-SRP support. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_TELNET: Disable Telnet. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_TFTP: Disable TFTP. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_VERBOSE_STRINGS: Disable verbose strings. Default:OFFCURL_DISABLE_WEBSOCKETS: Disable WebSocket. Default:OFFHTTP_ONLY: Disable all protocols except HTTP (This overrides allCURL_DISABLE_*options). Default:OFF
Environment
CI: Assume running under CI if set.CURL_BUILDINFO: Printbuildinfo.txtif set.CURL_CI: Assume running under CI if set.
CMake options
CMAKE_DEBUG_POSTFIX: Default:-dCMAKE_IMPORT_LIBRARY_SUFFIX(see CMake)CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR(see CMake)CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR(see CMake)CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR(see CMake)CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX(see CMake)CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX(see CMake)CMAKE_UNITY_BUILD_BATCH_SIZE: Set the number of sources in a "unity" unit. Default:0(all)CMAKE_UNITY_BUILD: Enable "unity" (aka jumbo) builds. Default:OFF
Details via CMake variables and install directories.
Dependencies
CURL_BROTLI: Use brotli. Default:OFFCURL_USE_BEARSSL: Enable BearSSL for SSL/TLS. Default:OFFCURL_USE_GNUTLS: Enable GnuTLS for SSL/TLS. Default:OFFCURL_USE_GSASL: Use libgsasl. Default:OFFCURL_USE_GSSAPI: Use GSSAPI implementation. Default:OFFCURL_USE_LIBPSL: Use libpsl. Default:ONCURL_USE_LIBSSH2: Use libssh2. Default:ONCURL_USE_LIBSSH: Use libssh. Default:OFFCURL_USE_LIBUV: Use libuv for event-based tests. Default:OFFCURL_USE_MBEDTLS: Enable mbedTLS for SSL/TLS. Default:OFFCURL_USE_OPENSSL: Enable OpenSSL for SSL/TLS. Default:ONif no other TLS backend was enabled.CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG: Enablepkg-configto detect dependencies. Default:ONfor Unix, vcpkg, MinGW if not cross-compiling.CURL_USE_RUSTLS: Enable Rustls for SSL/TLS. Default:OFFCURL_USE_SCHANNEL: Enable Windows native SSL/TLS (Schannel). Default:OFFCURL_USE_SECTRANSP: Enable Apple OS native SSL/TLS (Secure Transport). Default:OFFCURL_USE_WOLFSSH: Use wolfSSH. Default:OFFCURL_USE_WOLFSSL: Enable wolfSSL for SSL/TLS. Default:OFFCURL_ZLIB: Use zlib (ON,OFForAUTO). Default:AUTOCURL_ZSTD: Use zstd. Default:OFFENABLE_ARES: Enable c-ares support. Default:OFFUSE_APPLE_IDN: Use Apple built-in IDN support. Default:OFFUSE_LIBIDN2: Use libidn2 for IDN support. Default:ONUSE_LIBRTMP: Enable librtmp from rtmpdump. Default:OFFUSE_MSH3: Use msh3/msquic library for HTTP/3 support. Default:OFFUSE_NGHTTP2: Use nghttp2 library. Default:ONUSE_NGTCP2: Use ngtcp2 and nghttp3 libraries for HTTP/3 support. Default:OFFUSE_QUICHE: Use quiche library for HTTP/3 support. Default:OFFUSE_WIN32_IDN: Use WinIDN for IDN support. Default:OFFUSE_WIN32_LDAP: Use Windows LDAP implementation. Default:ON
Dependency options (via CMake)
OPENSSL_ROOT_DIR: Set this variable to the root installation of OpenSSL (and forks).ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR: The zlib include directory.ZLIB_LIBRARY: Path tozliblibrary.
Dependency options
PERL_EXECUTABLEPerl binary used throughout the build and tests.BEARSSL_INCLUDE_DIR: The BearSSL include directory.BEARSSL_LIBRARY: Path tobearssllibrary.BROTLI_INCLUDE_DIR: The brotli include directory.BROTLICOMMON_LIBRARY: Path tobrotlicommonlibrary.BROTLIDEC_LIBRARY: Path tobrotlideclibrary.CARES_INCLUDE_DIR: The c-ares include directory.CARES_LIBRARY: Path tocareslibrary.GSS_ROOT_DIR: Set this variable to the root installation of GSS. (also supported as environment)LDAP_LIBRARY: Name or full path toldaplibrary. Default:ldapLDAP_LBER_LIBRARY: Name or full path tolberlibrary. Default:lberLDAP_INCLUDE_DIR: Path to LDAP include directory.LIBGSASL_INCLUDE_DIR: The libgsasl include directory.LIBGSASL_LIBRARY: Path tolibgsasllibrary.LIBIDN2_INCLUDE_DIR: The libidn2 include directory.LIBIDN2_LIBRARY: Path tolibidn2library.LIBPSL_INCLUDE_DIR: The libpsl include directory.LIBPSL_LIBRARY: Path tolibpsllibrary.LIBSSH_INCLUDE_DIR: The libssh include directory.LIBSSH_LIBRARY: Path tolibsshlibrary.LIBSSH2_INCLUDE_DIR: The libssh2 include directory.LIBSSH2_LIBRARY: Path tolibssh2library.LIBUV_INCLUDE_DIR: The libuv include directory.LIBUV_LIBRARY: Path tolibuvlibrary.MSH3_INCLUDE_DIR: The msh3 include directory.MSH3_LIBRARY: Path tomsh3library.MBEDTLS_INCLUDE_DIR: The mbedTLS include directory.MBEDTLS_LIBRARY: Path tombedtlslibrary.MBEDX509_LIBRARY: Path tombedx509library.MBEDCRYPTO_LIBRARY: Path tombedcryptolibrary.NGHTTP2_INCLUDE_DIR: The nghttp2 include directory.NGHTTP2_LIBRARY: Path tonghttp2library.NGHTTP3_INCLUDE_DIR: The nghttp3 include directory.NGHTTP3_LIBRARY: Path tonghttp3library.NGTCP2_INCLUDE_DIR: The ngtcp2 include directory.NGTCP2_LIBRARY: Path tongtcp2library.NETTLE_INCLUDE_DIR: The nettle include directory.NETTLE_LIBRARY: Path tonettlelibrary.QUICHE_INCLUDE_DIR: The quiche include directory.QUICHE_LIBRARY: Path toquichelibrary.RUSTLS_INCLUDE_DIR: The Rustls include directory.RUSTLS_LIBRARY: Path torustlslibrary.WOLFSSH_INCLUDE_DIR: The wolfSSH include directory.WOLFSSH_LIBRARY: Path towolfsshlibrary.WOLFSSL_INCLUDE_DIR: The wolfSSL include directory.WOLFSSL_LIBRARY: Path towolfssllibrary.ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR: The zstd include directory.ZSTD_LIBRARY: Path tozstdlibrary.
Test tools
APACHECTL: Default:apache2ctlAPXS: Default:apxsCADDY: Default:caddyHTTPD_NGHTTPX: Default:nghttpxHTTPD: Default:apache2TEST_NGHTTPX: Default:nghttpxVSFTPD: Default:vsftps