How to Use `--Start-Group` And `--End-Group` In Cmake?

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In CMake, the --start-group and --end-group options are used to group a set of static libraries or object files together so that the linker is able to properly resolve dependencies.


When using these options, you should enclose the libraries or object files that need to be grouped within --start-group and --end-group tags. This will ensure that the linker processes them in the correct order.


For example, if you have a group of static libraries that need to be linked together, you can use --start-group and --end-group to ensure that all dependencies are resolved correctly.


Overall, using --start-group and --end-group can help prevent linker errors and ensure that your project builds successfully.


What is the purpose of --start-group and --end-group in cmake?

The --start-group and --end-group flags in CMake are used to group a set of targets together so that they are treated as a single entity when linking libraries or source files. This allows you to specify a group of targets that should be linked together in a specific order, ensuring that dependencies between the targets are resolved correctly. This can be useful in cases where you have a set of libraries that depend on each other, and you want to make sure they are linked in the correct order. By using these flags, you can control the linking order of the grouped targets.


How do you manage dependencies with --start-group and --end-group in cmake?

In CMake, you can manage dependencies using the --start-group and --end-group flags within the target_link_libraries command. These flags allow you to group multiple libraries together so that CMake resolves their dependencies in the correct order.


Here is an example of how you can use --start-group and --end-group in CMake:

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target_link_libraries(my_target
    --start-group
    lib1
    lib2
    --end-group
    lib3
)


In this example, lib1 and lib2 are grouped together using --start-group and --end-group, meaning that their dependencies will be resolved before linking lib3 to my_target. This ensures that any dependencies between lib1 and lib2 are correctly handled.


By using --start-group and --end-group in CMake, you can effectively manage dependencies and avoid linker errors related to undefined symbols or unresolved dependencies.


How do you use --start-group and --end-group with third-party libraries in cmake?

In CMake, you can use the --start-group and --end-group flags to group third-party libraries together to ensure correct linking order when building your project.


To use --start-group and --end-group with third-party libraries in CMake, you can set the LINK_OPTIONS property of the target that uses the libraries.


For example, if you have a target called my_target that uses two third-party libraries lib1 and lib2, you can use the following CMake code to group them together:

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target_link_libraries(my_target PUBLIC
    -Wl,--start-group
    lib1
    lib2
    -Wl,--end-group
)


This will ensure that the linker processes lib1 and lib2 as a group, preventing any undefined symbol errors that may occur due to interdependencies between the libraries.


Make sure to replace lib1 and lib2 with the actual names of the third-party libraries you are using in your project.


How to use --start-group and --end-group in cmake?

In CMake, the --start-group and --end-group flags are used to define a group of libraries that should be linked together in a specific order. This is useful when dealing with circular dependencies or when certain libraries must come before or after others during the linking process.


To use --start-group and --end-group in CMake, you typically need to add these flags to the CMAKE_<LANGUAGE>_LINK_EXECUTABLE target property. Here's an example of how you can use these flags:

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# Define your target executable
add_executable(my_executable ${SOURCE_FILES})

# Specify the libraries that need to be linked together in a group
set(LIBRARY_GROUP -Wl,--start-group library1 library2 library3 -Wl,--end-group)

# Set the linker flags for the target
set_target_properties(my_executable PROPERTIES
    LINK_FLAGS ${LIBRARY_GROUP}
)


In this example, library1, library2, and library3 are the libraries that need to be linked together in a group. The LINK_FLAGS property is set to include the --start-group and --end-group flags along with the list of libraries in the group.


When you build the target executable, CMake will use these flags to ensure that the libraries are linked together in the defined order.


What is the impact of --start-group and --end-group on build time in cmake?

The impact of --start-group and --end-group on build time in CMake is dependent on the specific build configuration and dependencies of the project.


--start-group and --end-group are linker flags that group a set of libraries or object files together when linking them to the final binary. This can help resolve circular dependencies and ensure that all dependencies are resolved correctly during the linking process.


In some cases, using --start-group and --end-group can improve build times by enabling the linker to optimize the linking process, especially when dealing with large projects with complex dependencies. However, in some cases, using these flags can also introduce additional overhead and potentially slow down the build process.


Overall, the impact of --start-group and --end-group on build time can vary depending on the specific project and build configuration. It is recommended to test the build time with and without these flags to determine the most optimal configuration for a particular project.


How can --start-group and --end-group help in resolving linker errors in cmake?

The --start-group and --end-group flags can be helpful in resolving linker errors in CMake by allowing you to group a set of libraries or object files together. This can be useful when dealing with circular dependencies or when you want to ensure that certain libraries are linked in a specific order.


When you specify --start-group before a list of libraries or object files and --end-group after them, the linker will treat all the libraries within the group as a single entity and resolve any dependencies within that group before moving on to the next group.


This can help in resolving linker errors such as undefined references or missing symbols, as it ensures that all necessary libraries are linked in the correct order. It can also help in situations where there are conflicting symbols or duplicate definitions, as grouping them together can help the linker prioritize which symbols to use.


Overall, using --start-group and --end-group can help in organizing and managing dependencies in your project, and can be a useful tool in resolving linker errors in CMake.

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