diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx
index b4c05ab..2917763 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@
   this->MakefileMap = nullptr;
 }
 
-void cmCPackGenerator::DisplayVerboseOutput(const char* msg, float progress)
+void cmCPackGenerator::DisplayVerboseOutput(const std::string& msg,
+                                            float progress)
 {
   (void)progress;
   cmCPackLogger(cmCPackLog::LOG_VERBOSE, "" << msg << std::endl);
@@ -689,7 +690,7 @@
   cm.SetHomeOutputDirectory("");
   cm.GetCurrentSnapshot().SetDefaultDefinitions();
   cm.AddCMakePaths();
-  cm.SetProgressCallback([this](const char* msg, float prog) {
+  cm.SetProgressCallback([this](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
     this->DisplayVerboseOutput(msg, prog);
   });
   cm.SetTrace(this->Trace);
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h
index 4755f94..9e4bf43 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
   void SetLogger(cmCPackLog* log) { this->Logger = log; }
 
   //! Display verbose information via logger
-  void DisplayVerboseOutput(const char* msg, float progress);
+  void DisplayVerboseOutput(const std::string& msg, float progress);
 
   bool ReadListFile(const char* moduleName);
 
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cpack.cxx b/Source/CPack/cpack.cxx
index 0413422..da9575b 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cpack.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/cpack.cxx
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
   return 1;
 }
 
-static void cpackProgressCallback(const char* message, float /*unused*/)
+static void cpackProgressCallback(const std::string& message, float /*unused*/)
 {
   std::cout << "-- " << message << std::endl;
 }
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx
index 3856569..696b52f 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx
@@ -126,10 +126,11 @@
     cmSystemTools::SetStdoutCallback([&s](std::string const& m) { s += m; });
     cmSystemTools::SetStderrCallback([&s](std::string const& m) { s += m; });
 
-    this->CM.SetProgressCallback([&s](const char* msg, float /*unused*/) {
-      s += msg;
-      s += "\n";
-    });
+    this->CM.SetProgressCallback(
+      [&s](const std::string& msg, float /*unused*/) {
+        s += msg;
+        s += "\n";
+      });
   }
 
   ~cmCTestBuildAndTestCaptureRAII()
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx
index 2cbdc4e..a714abe 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx
@@ -288,11 +288,12 @@
       this->ParentMakefile->GetRecursionDepth());
   }
 
-  this->CMake->SetProgressCallback([this](const char* m, float /*unused*/) {
-    if (m && *m) {
-      cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_OUTPUT, "-- " << m << std::endl);
-    }
-  });
+  this->CMake->SetProgressCallback(
+    [this](const std::string& m, float /*unused*/) {
+      if (!m.empty()) {
+        cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_OUTPUT, "-- " << m << std::endl);
+      }
+    });
 
   this->AddCTestCommand("ctest_build", new cmCTestBuildCommand);
   this->AddCTestCommand("ctest_configure", new cmCTestConfigureCommand);
diff --git a/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.cxx b/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.cxx
index 076ee3d..ec18ece 100644
--- a/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.cxx
+++ b/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.cxx
@@ -501,14 +501,14 @@
   pos_form_cursor(this->Form);
 }
 
-void cmCursesMainForm::UpdateProgress(const char* msg, float prog)
+void cmCursesMainForm::UpdateProgress(const std::string& msg, float prog)
 {
   char tmp[1024];
   const char* cmsg = tmp;
   if (prog >= 0) {
-    sprintf(tmp, "%s %i%%", msg, static_cast<int>(100 * prog));
+    sprintf(tmp, "%s %i%%", msg.c_str(), static_cast<int>(100 * prog));
   } else {
-    cmsg = msg;
+    cmsg = msg.c_str();
   }
   this->UpdateStatusBar(cmsg);
   this->PrintKeys(1);
@@ -528,7 +528,9 @@
   touchwin(stdscr);
   refresh();
   this->CMakeInstance->SetProgressCallback(
-    [this](const char* msg, float prog) { this->UpdateProgress(msg, prog); });
+    [this](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
+      this->UpdateProgress(msg, prog);
+    });
 
   // always save the current gui values to disk
   this->FillCacheManagerFromUI();
@@ -598,7 +600,9 @@
   touchwin(stdscr);
   refresh();
   this->CMakeInstance->SetProgressCallback(
-    [this](const char* msg, float prog) { this->UpdateProgress(msg, prog); });
+    [this](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
+      this->UpdateProgress(msg, prog);
+    });
 
   // Get rid of previous errors
   this->Errors = std::vector<std::string>();
diff --git a/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.h b/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.h
index c09ce2a..d379975 100644
--- a/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.h
+++ b/Source/CursesDialog/cmCursesMainForm.h
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
   /**
    * Progress callback
    */
-  void UpdateProgress(const char* msg, float prog);
+  void UpdateProgress(const std::string& msg, float prog);
 
 protected:
   // Copy the cache values from the user interface to the actual
diff --git a/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.cxx b/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.cxx
index c90c142..f357f90 100644
--- a/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.cxx
+++ b/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.cxx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
   this->CMakeInstance->SetCMakeEditCommand(
     cmSystemTools::GetCMakeGUICommand());
   this->CMakeInstance->SetProgressCallback(
-    [this](const char* msg, float percent) {
+    [this](const std::string& msg, float percent) {
       this->progressCallback(msg, percent);
     });
 
@@ -346,12 +346,12 @@
 #endif
 }
 
-void QCMake::progressCallback(const char* msg, float percent)
+void QCMake::progressCallback(const std::string& msg, float percent)
 {
   if (percent >= 0) {
-    emit this->progressChanged(QString::fromLocal8Bit(msg), percent);
+    emit this->progressChanged(QString::fromStdString(msg), percent);
   } else {
-    emit this->outputMessage(QString::fromLocal8Bit(msg));
+    emit this->outputMessage(QString::fromStdString(msg));
   }
   QCoreApplication::processEvents();
 }
diff --git a/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.h b/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.h
index 8492606..f2fd6d9 100644
--- a/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.h
+++ b/Source/QtDialog/QCMake.h
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
   cmake* CMakeInstance;
 
   bool interruptCallback();
-  void progressCallback(const char* msg, float percent);
+  void progressCallback(std::string const& msg, float percent);
   void messageCallback(std::string const& msg, const char* title);
   void stdoutCallback(std::string const& msg);
   void stderrCallback(std::string const& msg);
diff --git a/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx b/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
index fb3a1bc..4d9f657 100644
--- a/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
@@ -1834,7 +1834,7 @@
     if (!this->MessageNever && (copy || !this->MessageLazy)) {
       std::string message = (copy ? "Installing: " : "Up-to-date: ");
       message += toFile;
-      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message.c_str(), -1);
+      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message, -1);
     }
     if (type != TypeDir) {
       // Add the file to the manifest.
@@ -2214,7 +2214,7 @@
       message += "\" to \"";
       message += newRPath;
       message += "\"";
-      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message.c_str(), -1);
+      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message, -1);
     }
     if (have_ft) {
       cmSystemTools::FileTimeSet(file, ft);
@@ -2278,7 +2278,7 @@
       std::string message = "Removed runtime path from \"";
       message += file;
       message += "\"";
-      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message.c_str(), -1);
+      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message, -1);
     }
     if (have_ft) {
       cmSystemTools::FileTimeSet(file, ft);
@@ -2647,7 +2647,7 @@
   if (helper->UpdatePercentage(dlnow, dltotal, status)) {
     cmFileCommand* fc = helper->GetFileCommand();
     cmMakefile* mf = fc->GetMakefile();
-    mf->DisplayStatus(status.c_str(), -1);
+    mf->DisplayStatus(status, -1);
   }
 
   return 0;
@@ -2665,7 +2665,7 @@
   if (helper->UpdatePercentage(ulnow, ultotal, status)) {
     cmFileCommand* fc = helper->GetFileCommand();
     cmMakefile* mf = fc->GetMakefile();
-    mf->DisplayStatus(status.c_str(), -1);
+    mf->DisplayStatus(status, -1);
   }
 
   return 0;
diff --git a/Source/cmFindPackageCommand.cxx b/Source/cmFindPackageCommand.cxx
index 52ff5ea..45b096f 100644
--- a/Source/cmFindPackageCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmFindPackageCommand.cxx
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@
       std::ostringstream aw;
       aw << "Could NOT find " << this->Name << " (missing: " << this->Name
          << "_DIR)";
-      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(aw.str().c_str(), -1);
+      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(aw.str(), -1);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
index 8e7ca12..11c382f 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
@@ -1225,7 +1225,7 @@
     } else {
       msg << "Configuring done";
     }
-    this->CMakeInstance->UpdateProgress(msg.str().c_str(), -1);
+    this->CMakeInstance->UpdateProgress(msg.str(), -1);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
index 7284f0b..f872de5 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@
         winSDK_7_1)) {
     std::ostringstream m;
     m << "Found Windows SDK v7.1: " << winSDK_7_1;
-    mf->DisplayStatus(m.str().c_str(), -1);
+    mf->DisplayStatus(m.str(), -1);
     this->DefaultPlatformToolset = "Windows7.1SDK";
     return true;
   } else {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio14Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio14Generator.cxx
index a0a9558..2d54c33 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio14Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio14Generator.cxx
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
     std::ostringstream e;
     e << "Selecting Windows SDK version " << this->WindowsTargetPlatformVersion
       << " to target Windows " << this->SystemVersion << ".";
-    mf->DisplayStatus(e.str().c_str(), -1);
+    mf->DisplayStatus(e.str(), -1);
   }
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_VS_WINDOWS_TARGET_PLATFORM_VERSION",
                     this->WindowsTargetPlatformVersion.c_str());
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index f246da2..b0dacf1 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -3547,7 +3547,7 @@
   return this->GetCMakeInstance()->GetState();
 }
 
-void cmMakefile::DisplayStatus(const char* message, float s) const
+void cmMakefile::DisplayStatus(const std::string& message, float s) const
 {
   cmake* cm = this->GetCMakeInstance();
   if (cm->GetWorkingMode() == cmake::FIND_PACKAGE_MODE) {
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.h b/Source/cmMakefile.h
index fce90f2..9f01986 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.h
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@
 #endif
 
   ///! Display progress or status message.
-  void DisplayStatus(const char*, float) const;
+  void DisplayStatus(const std::string&, float) const;
 
   /**
    * Expand the given list file arguments into the full set after
diff --git a/Source/cmMessageCommand.cxx b/Source/cmMessageCommand.cxx
index 95f5fcb..1a21ae4 100644
--- a/Source/cmMessageCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMessageCommand.cxx
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     m->DisplayMessage(type, message, this->Makefile->GetBacktrace());
   } else {
     if (status) {
-      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message.c_str(), -1);
+      this->Makefile->DisplayStatus(message, -1);
     } else {
       cmSystemTools::Message(message);
     }
diff --git a/Source/cmServer.cxx b/Source/cmServer.cxx
index 719e6b1..1903fd9 100644
--- a/Source/cmServer.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmServer.cxx
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
 
   if (this->Protocol) {
     this->Protocol->CMakeInstance()->SetProgressCallback(
-      [&request](const char* msg, float prog) {
+      [&request](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
         reportProgress(msg, prog, request);
       });
     this->WriteResponse(connection, this->Protocol->Process(request),
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
   this->WriteJsonObject(connection, hello, nullptr);
 }
 
-void cmServer::reportProgress(const char* msg, float progress,
+void cmServer::reportProgress(const std::string& msg, float progress,
                               const cmServerRequest& request)
 {
   if (progress < 0.0f || progress > 1.0f) {
diff --git a/Source/cmServer.h b/Source/cmServer.h
index 3edc887..aba4924 100644
--- a/Source/cmServer.h
+++ b/Source/cmServer.h
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
   void OnConnected(cmConnection* connection) override;
 
 private:
-  static void reportProgress(const char* msg, float progress,
+  static void reportProgress(const std::string& msg, float progress,
                              const cmServerRequest& request);
   static void reportMessage(const std::string& msg, const char* title,
                             const cmServerRequest& request);
diff --git a/Source/cmake.cxx b/Source/cmake.cxx
index 8023298..d507484 100644
--- a/Source/cmake.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmake.cxx
@@ -1705,7 +1705,7 @@
   ret = this->Generate();
   std::string message = "Build files have been written to: ";
   message += this->GetHomeOutputDirectory();
-  this->UpdateProgress(message.c_str(), -1);
+  this->UpdateProgress(message, -1);
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1925,7 +1925,7 @@
   this->ProgressCallback = std::move(f);
 }
 
-void cmake::UpdateProgress(const char* msg, float prog)
+void cmake::UpdateProgress(const std::string& msg, float prog)
 {
   if (this->ProgressCallback && !this->State->GetIsInTryCompile()) {
     this->ProgressCallback(msg, prog);
@@ -2640,7 +2640,7 @@
       }
       std::string message = "Build files have been written to: ";
       message += this->GetHomeOutputDirectory();
-      this->UpdateProgress(message.c_str(), -1);
+      this->UpdateProgress(message, -1);
 
       // Restore the previously set directories to their original value.
       this->SetHomeDirectory(homeOrig);
diff --git a/Source/cmake.h b/Source/cmake.h
index 53d44f1..6fa2d3a 100644
--- a/Source/cmake.h
+++ b/Source/cmake.h
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@
   ///! Parse command line arguments that might set cache values
   bool SetCacheArgs(const std::vector<std::string>&);
 
-  using ProgressCallbackType = std::function<void(const char*, float)>;
+  using ProgressCallbackType = std::function<void(const std::string&, float)>;
   /**
    *  Set the function used by GUIs to receive progress updates
    *  Function gets passed: message as a const char*, a progress
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
   void SetProgressCallback(ProgressCallbackType f);
 
   ///! this is called by generators to update the progress
-  void UpdateProgress(const char* msg, float prog);
+  void UpdateProgress(const std::string& msg, float prog);
 
 #if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
   ///! Get the variable watch object
diff --git a/Source/cmakemain.cxx b/Source/cmakemain.cxx
index a49246b..09068f8 100644
--- a/Source/cmakemain.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmakemain.cxx
@@ -148,14 +148,15 @@
   std::cerr << m << cmakemainGetStack(cm) << std::endl << std::flush;
 }
 
-static void cmakemainProgressCallback(const char* m, float prog, cmake* cm)
+static void cmakemainProgressCallback(const std::string& m, float prog,
+                                      cmake* cm)
 {
   cmMakefile* mf = cmakemainGetMakefile(cm);
   std::string dir;
-  if ((mf) && (strstr(m, "Configuring") == m) && (prog < 0)) {
+  if (mf && cmHasLiteralPrefix(m, "Configuring") && (prog < 0)) {
     dir = " ";
     dir += mf->GetCurrentSourceDirectory();
-  } else if ((mf) && (strstr(m, "Generating") == m)) {
+  } else if (mf && cmHasLiteralPrefix(m, "Generating")) {
     dir = " ";
     dir += mf->GetCurrentBinaryDirectory();
   }
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@
     [&cm](const std::string& msg, const char* title) {
       cmakemainMessageCallback(msg, title, &cm);
     });
-  cm.SetProgressCallback([&cm](const char* msg, float prog) {
+  cm.SetProgressCallback([&cm](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
     cmakemainProgressCallback(msg, prog, &cm);
   });
   cm.SetWorkingMode(workingMode);
@@ -504,7 +505,7 @@
     [&cm](const std::string& msg, const char* title) {
       cmakemainMessageCallback(msg, title, &cm);
     });
-  cm.SetProgressCallback([&cm](const char* msg, float prog) {
+  cm.SetProgressCallback([&cm](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
     cmakemainProgressCallback(msg, prog, &cm);
   });
   return cm.Build(jobs, dir, target, config, nativeOptions, clean, verbose);
@@ -547,7 +548,7 @@
     [&cm](const std::string& msg, const char* title) {
       cmakemainMessageCallback(msg, title, &cm);
     });
-  cm.SetProgressCallback([&cm](const char* msg, float prog) {
+  cm.SetProgressCallback([&cm](const std::string& msg, float prog) {
     cmakemainProgressCallback(msg, prog, &cm);
   });
   return cm.Open(dir, false) ? 0 : 1;