cmake_template

Production-ready C++ template with Android NDK, cross-compilation to Windows, Docker, CPack, and one-command CI pipelines. Targets C++23/26. Ninja Multi-Config, CPM, code-quality tooling — zero friction from clone to package.

Quick Start

cmake --preset=gcc
cmake --build --preset=gcc-release
ctest --preset=gcc-release

Full pipeline (configure → build → test → package):

cmake --workflow --preset=gcc-full

Why this template?

Most CMake starters stop at "it builds on my machine". This template goes further with first-class cross-compilation and packaging.

• Android NDK out of the box — 4 presets (arm64, arm32, x64, x86) with API 24.
• Linux → Windows cross-compile — 3 llvm-mingw presets (x86_64, i686, aarch64).
• Reproducible builds — Docker images for CI and local development.
• One-command pipelines — cmake --workflow handles configure → build → test → package.
• Modern standards — C++23/26 with clang-tidy, clang-format, IWYU-ready structure.

Comparison

Feature	cmake_template	cpp-best-practices	kigster	district10	pamplejuce
Pitch	Generic C++ starter with cross-compile	Opinionated best-practice starter	Minimal C/C++ starter	Qt / Boost / OpenCV examples	JUCE audio plugins
C++ Standard	23 / 26	17 / 20	unspecified	11	unspecified
CMake Presets	10+ with workflows	—	basic	—	JUCE-oriented
Android NDK	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Android instrumentation (tests)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Linux → Windows cross	✅ llvm-mingw	❌	❌	❌	❌
WebAssembly	❌ planned (#2)	✅ + GitHub Pages deploy	❌	❌	❌
Docker / CI-ready	✅ Dockerfile + GitHub Actions	✅ Docker + Actions	❌	❌	✅ GitHub Actions
CPack packaging	✅ tar.gz / zip / tar.xz	❌	❌	❌	❌
CTest test runner	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Dependency manager	CPM + prebuilt/air-gapped (#8)	CPM	—	—	—
vcpkg compatibility	❌ planned (#3)	❌	❌	❌	❌
Sanitizers (ASan/UBSan)	❌ planned (#9)	✅	❌	❌	❌
Fuzz testing	❌	✅ libFuzzer	❌	❌	❌
Codecov / CodeQL	❌ planned (#10)	✅	❌	❌	❌
Steam Runtime / Steam Deck	❌ planned (#11)	❌	❌	❌	❌
Qt / OpenGL	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Audio / JUCE	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
C++20 modules	❌ planned (#5)	❌	❌	❌	❌

Honest notes: this template is intentionally generic — it does not include Qt, OpenGL, audio scaffolding, or fuzz testing. Those are well covered by specialized starters above. We focus on cross-platform build engineering and packaging.

Prerequisites

cmake 3.31+
ninja 1.11+
C++23-capable compiler (clang 16+, gcc 13+, msvc 19.35+)

macOS

brew install cmake llvm ninja doxygen

Linux (Fedora)

sudo dnf install cmake gcc-c++ ninja-build doxygen llvm clang-tools-extra

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt install cmake g++ ninja-build doxygen llvm clang-tools

Windows

choco install cmake llvm ninja doxygen visualstudio2022buildtools

Presets

All presets use Ninja Multi-Config (except msvc → Visual Studio 17 2022).

Configure

Preset	Compiler	Platform	Notes
gcc	GCC/G++	Native	—
clang	Clang/Clang++	Native	—
msvc	MSVC (VS 2022)	Windows	x64 arch, x64 host toolset
android-arm64	NDK	Android	arm64-v8a, API 24
android-arm32	NDK	Android	armeabi-v7a, API 24
android-x64	NDK	Android	x86_64 (emulator)
android-x86	NDK	Android	x86 (emulator)
llvm-mingw-x86_64	LLVM-MinGW	Linux → Windows	64-bit cross-compilation
llvm-mingw-i686	LLVM-MinGW	Linux → Windows	32-bit cross-compilation
llvm-mingw-aarch64	LLVM-MinGW	Linux → Windows	ARM64 cross-compilation

Build

cmake --build --preset=<name>-release
cmake --build --preset=<name>-debug

Available: gcc-release, gcc-debug, clang-release, clang-debug, msvc-release, msvc-debug, android-arm64, android-arm32, android-x64, android-x86, llvm-mingw-x86_64, llvm-mingw-i686, llvm-mingw-aarch64.

Test

ctest --preset=<name>-release

Available: gcc-release, gcc-debug, clang-release, clang-debug, msvc-release, msvc-debug. Tests are disabled for cross-compiled targets.

Package (CPack)

cpack --preset=<name>-package

Preset	Format
gcc-package	.tar.gz
clang-package	.tar.gz
msvc-package	.zip
llvm-mingw-*-package	.tar.xz

Workflows

Full pipelines (configure → build → test → package) in a single command:

cmake --workflow --preset=gcc-full
cmake --workflow --preset=clang-full
cmake --workflow --preset=msvc-full
cmake --workflow --preset=android-arm64-full    # configure + build only
cmake --workflow --preset=llvm-mingw-x86_64-full # configure + build + package (no test)

Project Structure

.
├── CMakeLists.txt
├── CMakePresets.json
├── cmake/                  # find_package modules (warnings, cpm, code quality)
├── src/                    # application sources
├── tests/                  # doctest + CTest
├── tools/                  # helper scripts
├── docker/                 # Dockerfiles for reproducible builds
├── android-project/        # Android project scaffolding
├── .clang-format           # clang-format config
├── .clang-tidy             # clang-tidy config
├── .cmake-format.yaml      # cmake-format config
├── .editorconfig           # editor defaults
├── .pre-commit-config.yaml # pre-commit hooks
└── license                 # MIT

Code Quality

Format sources and CMake files:

cmake --build build/gcc --target format

Static analysis:

cmake --build build/gcc --target tidy

Lint:

cmake --build build/gcc --target cpplint

Pre-commit hooks enforce formatting on every commit. Install once:

pre-commit install

Documentation

cmake --build build/gcc --target doxygen

Output: build/gcc/docs/doxygen/html.

Docker

docker build -t cxx-skeleton -f docker/fedora.Dockerfile .
docker run --rm -v "$(pwd):/src" cxx-skeleton cmake --workflow --preset=gcc-full

Android

Set ANDROID_NDK_HOME and run:

export ANDROID_NDK_HOME=/path/to/ndk
cmake --workflow --preset=android-arm64-full

Cross-Compilation (Linux → Windows)

Requires llvm-mingw on PATH:

cmake --workflow --preset=llvm-mingw-x86_64-full

Dependencies

Managed via CPM. Add packages in CMakeLists.txt:

CPMAddPackage("gh:fmtlib/fmt#11.1.4")

CPM downloads are verbose (FETCHCONTENT_QUIET=OFF) for CI visibility.

IDE Support

The project generates compile_commands.json and is compatible with CLion, Visual Studio, QtCreator, KDevelop, and any LSP-based editor.

Consulting

Need help with CMake architecture, cross-compilation pipelines, CI/CD for C++, or packaging with CPack? I help teams reduce build friction and ship faster.

• 🌐 e-gleba.github.io — contacts, portfolio, and blog
• 📧 i@egleba.ru — direct inquiries (fastest response)
• 💼 Open for freelance and contract work (up to $150/hr depending on scope)
• 🛠️ Services: CMake audits, toolchain setup, Docker/CI optimization, custom presets, onboarding workshops

For inquiries, reach out via email or through the website above, or open a Discussion.

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Curated C++ ecosystem links — standards, tooling, and community references — are maintained in docs/references.md.