cmake-gui(1)
| CMAKE-GUI(1) | CMake | CMAKE-GUI(1) |
NAME
cmake-gui - CMake GUI Command-Line Reference
SYNOPSIS
cmake-gui [<options>] cmake-gui [<options>] -B <path-to-build> [-S <path-to-source>] cmake-gui [<options>] <path-to-source | path-to-existing-build> cmake-gui [<options>] --browse-manual [<filename>]
DESCRIPTION
The cmake-gui executable is the CMake GUI. Project configuration settings may be specified interactively. Brief instructions are provided at the bottom of the window when the program is running.
CMake is a cross-platform build system generator. Projects specify their build process with platform-independent CMake listfiles included in each directory of a source tree with the name CMakeLists.txt. Users build a project by using CMake to generate a build system for a native tool on their platform.
OPTIONS
- -S <path-to-source>
- Path to root directory of the CMake project to build.
- -B <path-to-build>
- Path to directory which CMake will use as the root of build directory.
If the directory doesn't already exist CMake will make it.
- --preset=<preset-name>
- Name of the preset to use from the project's presets <#manual:cmake-presets(7)> files, if it has them.
- --browse-manual [<filename>]
- Open the CMake reference manual in a browser and immediately exit. If <filename> is specified, open that file within the reference manual instead of index.html.
- -version[=json-v1] [<file>], --version[=json-v1] [<file>], /V[=json-v1] [<file>], /version[=json-v1] [<file>]
- Show program name/version banner and exit. If json-v1 is specified,
print extended version information in JSON format. The JSON output
contains the versions for the CMake and its dependencies. The output is
printed to a named <file> if given.
The JSON output format is described in machine-readable form by this JSON schema.
- -h, -H, --help, -help, -usage, /?
- Print usage information and exit.
Usage describes the basic command line interface and its options.
- --help <keyword> [<file>]
- Print help for one CMake keyword.
<keyword> can be a property, variable, command, policy, generator or module.
The relevant manual entry for <keyword> is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
Changed in version 3.28: Prior to CMake 3.28, this option supported command names only.
- --help-full [<file>]
- Print all help manuals and exit.
All manuals are printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-manual <man> [<file>]
- Print one help manual and exit.
The specified manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-manual-list [<file>]
- List help manuals available and exit.
The list contains all manuals for which help may be obtained by using the --help-manual option followed by a manual name. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-command <cmd> [<file>]
- Print help for one command and exit.
The cmake-commands(7) <#manual:cmake-commands(7)> manual entry for <cmd> is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-command-list [<file>]
- List commands with help available and exit.
The list contains all commands for which help may be obtained by using the --help-command option followed by a command name. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-commands [<file>]
- Print cmake-commands manual and exit.
The cmake-commands(7) <#manual:cmake-commands(7)> manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-module <mod> [<file>]
- Print help for one module and exit.
The cmake-modules(7) <#manual:cmake-modules(7)> manual entry for <mod> is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-module-list [<file>]
- List modules with help available and exit.
The list contains all modules for which help may be obtained by using the --help-module option followed by a module name. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-modules [<file>]
- Print cmake-modules manual and exit.
The cmake-modules(7) <#manual:cmake-modules(7)> manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-policy <cmp> [<file>]
- Print help for one policy and exit.
The cmake-policies(7) <#manual:cmake-policies(7)> manual entry for <cmp> is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-policy-list [<file>]
- List policies with help available and exit.
The list contains all policies for which help may be obtained by using the --help-policy option followed by a policy name. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-policies [<file>]
- Print cmake-policies manual and exit.
The cmake-policies(7) <#manual:cmake-policies(7)> manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-property <prop> [<file>]
- Print help for one property and exit.
The cmake-properties(7) <#manual:cmake-properties(7)> manual entries for <prop> are printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-property-list [<file>]
- List properties with help available and exit.
The list contains all properties for which help may be obtained by using the --help-property option followed by a property name. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-properties [<file>]
- Print cmake-properties manual and exit.
The cmake-properties(7) <#manual:cmake-properties(7)> manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-variable <var> [<file>]
- Print help for one variable and exit.
The cmake-variables(7) <#manual:cmake-variables(7)> manual entry for <var> is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-variable-list [<file>]
- List variables with help available and exit.
The list contains all variables for which help may be obtained by using the --help-variable option followed by a variable name. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
- --help-variables [<file>]
- Print cmake-variables manual and exit.
The cmake-variables(7) <#manual:cmake-variables(7)> manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named <file> if given.
SEE ALSO
The following resources are available to get help using CMake:
- Home Page
- <https://cmake.org>
The primary starting point for learning about CMake.
- Online Documentation and Community Resources
- <https://cmake.org/documentation>
Links to available documentation and community resources may be found on this web page.
- Discourse Forum
- <https://discourse.cmake.org>
The Discourse Forum hosts discussion and questions about CMake.
Copyright
2000-2026 Kitware, Inc. and Contributors
| July 3, 2026 | 4.3.4 |