target_link_libraries and add_dependencies

Question

Is there any use case in which

target_link_libraries(my-lib x y z)

add_dependencies(my-lib x) # this is not just a waste of bytes?

If so, can

Answer 1

I don't know what you're particularly interested in...

From a conceptual point of view -- I think you're right. It is a waste of bytes.

From a CMake documentation point of view -- You should prefer make so to guarantee the correct build order.

According to the documentation target_link_libraries, add_dependencies concepts was ideologically split. Such an idea of split dependencies, and linker options is also persisted in the Makefile format in the GNU make tool.

target_link_libraries

..Specify libraries or flags to use when linking a given target..

add_dependencies

...Make a top-level depend on other top-level targets to ensure that they build before does...

In modern CMake from 3.* you can omit add_dependencies if you will perform linking with an aliased target:

add_library(fooLib 1.cpp 2.cpp)
add_library(my::fooLib ALIAS fooLib)
...
target_link_libraries(fooBin my::fooLib)