CODEWITHSUNDEEP
cmake
rafoo
rafoo

Reputation: 1642

Can we call a function inside a cmake generator expression?

Variables like $<TARGET_OBJECTS:myTarget> can contain a list. To pretty-print it I would like to transform like put a dash, or whatever. So the question is simple : can we call a function from a generator expression ?

I know generator expressions are evaluated at the end of the process, but for me it doesn't implies it can't call a function. However, it's not possible to return a value. If this is possible, is there a way to use it inside generator expressions ?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 394

Answers (2)

Tsyvarev
Tsyvarev

Reputation: 66278

You cannot call a function for the result of a generator expression, because generator expressions are evaluated after the configuration stage, when all CMake functions are executed.

For pretty-printing a list you could use $<JOIN> expression. For example,

$<JOIN $<TARGET_OBJECTS:myTarget>,$<COMMA> >

will concatenate all objects and paste , between them.

Upvotes: 2

Alex Reinking
Alex Reinking

Reputation: 20026

I know generator expressions are evaluated at runtime, so the function should also be [evaluated] at runtime.

What do you mean by "runtime"? That's not a thing in CMake. There's configuration time and generation time, which are different. Functions run during configuration and generator expressions are expanded during generation, so you cannot call a CMake function from a generator expression.

Plus, it's not possible to return a value. If this is possible, is there a way to use it inside generator expressions?

Indeed, functions in CMake do not have return values.

Upvotes: 0

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