How to Set Rpath In Cmake?

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In CMake, the CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH variable can be used to specify the runtime library search path (rpath) for installed targets. This can be set using the set command in the CMakeLists.txt file. The rpath is set relative to the install location specified by CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX.


For example, to set the rpath to a specific directory path/to/library for an installed target, you can add the following line to your CMakeLists.txt file:

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set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/path/to/library")


This will ensure that the target executable will search for libraries in the specified directory at runtime. Additionally, you can also use CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH to include the build directory in the rpath search path during development.


It is important to note that setting the rpath incorrectly can cause runtime library loading issues, so it is recommended to carefully test the rpath configuration before deploying your application.


How to set rpath in cmake for a custom build configuration?

To set the rpath in CMake for a custom build configuration, you can use the following steps:

  1. Open your CMakeLists.txt file and add the following line to set the rpath for the specific build configuration:
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set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib")


Replace ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX} with the path to the directory where you want to install the libraries.

  1. If you want to set the rpath for a specific target, you can use the following syntax:
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set_target_properties(your_target PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib")


Replace your_target with the name of the target for which you want to set the rpath.

  1. Run CMake to generate the build configuration files with the rpath settings included.
  2. Build your project using the custom build configuration, and the rpath should be set accordingly.


These steps will set the rpath in CMake for your custom build configuration and ensure that the linker looks in the specified directory for the required libraries during runtime.


How to set rpath in cmake for a specific compiler flags?

To set rpath in CMake for a specific compiler flags, you can use the following method:

  1. Identify the specific compiler flags that you want to set the rpath for. These flags usually include -Wl,-rpath followed by the path to the library or libraries that you want to set the rpath for.
  2. In your CMakeLists.txt file, you can use the SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES command to set the specific compiler flags for a target. For example, if you want to set the rpath for an executable target named my_executable to /path/to/library, you can use the following command:
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SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(my_executable PROPERTIES LINK_FLAGS "-Wl,-rpath,/path/to/library")


  1. You can also use the target_link_options command in newer versions of CMake to set linker options for a target. For example:
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target_link_options(my_executable PRIVATE "-Wl,-rpath,/path/to/library")


  1. After making these changes, reconfigure and build your project using CMake. The specified compiler flags will be used when linking the target, and the rpath will be set accordingly.


Note: It is important to make sure that the specified rpath exists on the target system where the executable will be run. Otherwise, the executable may fail to find the required libraries at runtime.


How to override rpath in cmake?

To override the rpath in CMake, you can use the CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH variable to set a custom rpath for your project. Here's an example of how you can override the rpath in CMake:

  1. Open your CMakeLists.txt file.
  2. Add the following line to set a custom rpath:
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set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "/path/to/custom/rpath")


Replace "/path/to/custom/rpath" with the path to the directory where you want the rpath to be set.

  1. You can also add multiple paths to the rpath using the following syntax:
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set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "/path/to/custom/rpath:/another/custom/rpath")


  1. Additionally, you can use the CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH variable to automatically add the directories in the link environment to the rpath:
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set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH TRUE)


  1. Save the CMakeLists.txt file and re-run CMake to generate the build files with the overridden rpath.


By following these steps, you can successfully override the rpath in CMake for your project.


How to set rpath in cmake for a project using add_library?

To set the rpath in CMake for a project using add_library, you can use the INSTALL_RPATH property of the target. Here is an example of how you can set the rpath for a library target in CMake:

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add_library(mylibrary SHARED mylibrary.cpp)
set_target_properties(mylibrary PROPERTIES
    INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../lib"
)


In this example, the INSTALL_RPATH property is set to "$ORIGIN/../lib", which means that when the library is installed, the runtime linker will search for its dependencies in the "../lib" directory relative to the location of the library.


You can also use other variables like $ORIGIN, $ORIGIN/../lib, or absolute paths in the INSTALL_RPATH property, depending on your project structure and requirements.


Remember to adjust the rpath setting according to your project structure and dependencies.

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