how to add external library in clion

Adding an external library in CLion involves a few steps. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

  1. Locate the library: First, you need to find the external library that you want to add to your project. Typically, libraries are distributed as precompiled binaries or source code. Make sure you have the necessary files for the library you want to add.

  2. Create a new CMake project: Open CLion and create a new CMake project. This will set up the necessary build system for your project.

  3. Open the CMakeLists.txt file: In the project view, find the CMakeLists.txt file. This file contains the configuration for your project.

  4. Edit the CMakeLists.txt file: Open the CMakeLists.txt file and locate the add_executable or add_library command, depending on whether you are creating an executable or a library project. This command is used to define the target for your project.

  5. Add the library include directories: To include the external library, you need to specify the include directories in the CMakeLists.txt file. Use the target_include_directories command to add the necessary directories. For example, if the library includes are located in a directory called "include", you can add the following line:

target_include_directories(your_project_name PRIVATE include)
  1. Add the library source files: If the library includes source files that need to be compiled along with your project, you need to add them to the CMakeLists.txt file. Use the add_library command to add the necessary source files. For example, if the library source files are located in a directory called "src", you can add the following line:
add_library(library_name src/file1.cpp src/file2.cpp)
  1. Link the library: Finally, you need to link the external library to your project. Use the target_link_libraries command to specify the library you want to link against. For example, if the library is called "example_library", you can add the following line:
target_link_libraries(your_project_name example_library)
  1. Build the project: After making the necessary changes in the CMakeLists.txt file, you can build your project in CLion. CLion will automatically generate the necessary build files and link the external library.

That's it! By following these steps, you should be able to successfully add an external library to your CLion project.