diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx
index db426b2..a18cbb4 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildAndTestHandler.cxx
@@ -182,10 +182,9 @@
     std::vector<std::string> extraPaths;
     std::vector<std::string> failed;
     fullPath = cmCTestTestHandler::FindExecutable(
-      this->CTest, this->ConfigSample.c_str(), resultingConfig, extraPaths,
-      failed);
+      this->CTest, this->ConfigSample, resultingConfig, extraPaths, failed);
     if (!fullPath.empty() && !resultingConfig.empty()) {
-      this->CTest->SetConfigType(resultingConfig.c_str());
+      this->CTest->SetConfigType(resultingConfig);
     }
     out << "Using config sample with results: " << fullPath << " and "
         << resultingConfig << std::endl;
@@ -296,9 +295,8 @@
     extraPaths.push_back(tempPath);
   }
   std::vector<std::string> failed;
-  fullPath =
-    cmCTestTestHandler::FindExecutable(this->CTest, this->TestCommand.c_str(),
-                                       resultingConfig, extraPaths, failed);
+  fullPath = cmCTestTestHandler::FindExecutable(
+    this->CTest, this->TestCommand, resultingConfig, extraPaths, failed);
 
   if (!cmSystemTools::FileExists(fullPath)) {
     out << "Could not find path to executable, perhaps it was not built: "
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildCommand.cxx
index 44fdc29..f33bdc4 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestBuildCommand.cxx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "cmGlobalGenerator.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmMessageType.h"
+#include "cmProperty.h"
 #include "cmStringAlgorithms.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 #include "cmake.h"
@@ -38,10 +39,9 @@
 
   this->Handler = handler;
 
-  const char* ctestBuildCommand =
-    this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_BUILD_COMMAND");
-  if (ctestBuildCommand && *ctestBuildCommand) {
-    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("MakeCommand", ctestBuildCommand,
+  cmProp ctestBuildCommand = this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_BUILD_COMMAND");
+  if (cmNonempty(ctestBuildCommand)) {
+    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("MakeCommand", *ctestBuildCommand,
                                        this->Quiet);
   } else {
     const char* cmakeGeneratorName =
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
       cmCTestOptionalLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
                          "SetMakeCommand:" << buildCommand << "\n",
                          this->Quiet);
-      this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("MakeCommand", buildCommand.c_str(),
+      this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("MakeCommand", buildCommand,
                                          this->Quiet);
     } else {
       std::ostringstream ostr;
@@ -123,16 +123,15 @@
     }
   }
 
-  if (const char* useLaunchers =
-        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_USE_LAUNCHERS")) {
-    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("UseLaunchers", useLaunchers,
+  if (cmProp useLaunchers = this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_USE_LAUNCHERS")) {
+    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("UseLaunchers", *useLaunchers,
                                        this->Quiet);
   }
 
-  if (const char* labelsForSubprojects =
-        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_LABELS_FOR_SUBPROJECTS")) {
+  if (cmProp labelsForSubprojects =
+        this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_LABELS_FOR_SUBPROJECTS")) {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("LabelsForSubprojects",
-                                       labelsForSubprojects, this->Quiet);
+                                       *labelsForSubprojects, this->Quiet);
   }
 
   handler->SetQuiet(this->Quiet);
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestConfigureCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestConfigureCommand.cxx
index f42c3f1..8716b31 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestConfigureCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestConfigureCommand.cxx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "cmCTestConfigureHandler.h"
 #include "cmGlobalGenerator.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
+#include "cmProperty.h"
 #include "cmStringAlgorithms.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 #include "cmake.h"
@@ -38,12 +39,12 @@
     return nullptr;
   }
 
-  const char* ctestConfigureCommand =
-    this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_CONFIGURE_COMMAND");
+  cmProp ctestConfigureCommand =
+    this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_CONFIGURE_COMMAND");
 
-  if (ctestConfigureCommand && *ctestConfigureCommand) {
+  if (cmNonempty(ctestConfigureCommand)) {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("ConfigureCommand",
-                                       ctestConfigureCommand, this->Quiet);
+                                       *ctestConfigureCommand, this->Quiet);
   } else {
     const char* cmakeGeneratorName =
       this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_CMAKE_GENERATOR");
@@ -125,8 +126,8 @@
       cmakeConfigureCommand += source_dir;
       cmakeConfigureCommand += "\"";
 
-      this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
-        "ConfigureCommand", cmakeConfigureCommand.c_str(), this->Quiet);
+      this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("ConfigureCommand",
+                                         cmakeConfigureCommand, this->Quiet);
     } else {
       this->SetError(
         "Configure command is not specified. If this is a "
@@ -136,10 +137,10 @@
     }
   }
 
-  if (const char* labelsForSubprojects =
-        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_LABELS_FOR_SUBPROJECTS")) {
+  if (cmProp labelsForSubprojects =
+        this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_LABELS_FOR_SUBPROJECTS")) {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("LabelsForSubprojects",
-                                       labelsForSubprojects, this->Quiet);
+                                       *labelsForSubprojects, this->Quiet);
   }
 
   cmCTestConfigureHandler* handler = this->CTest->GetConfigureHandler();
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestCoverageHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestCoverageHandler.cxx
index b839c10..093b2d1 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestCoverageHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestCoverageHandler.cxx
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@
     }
 
     const std::string fileName = cmSystemTools::GetFilenameName(fullFileName);
-    std::string shortFileName =
-      this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(fullFileName.c_str());
+    const std::string shortFileName =
+      this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(fullFileName);
     const cmCTestCoverageHandlerContainer::SingleFileCoverageVector& fcov =
       file.second;
     covLogXML.StartElement("File");
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@
     covSumXML.StartElement("File");
     covSumXML.Attribute("Name", fileName);
     covSumXML.Attribute("FullPath",
-                        this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(fullFileName.c_str()));
+                        this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(fullFileName));
     covSumXML.Attribute("Covered", tested + untested > 0 ? "true" : "false");
     covSumXML.Element("LOCTested", tested);
     covSumXML.Element("LOCUnTested", untested);
@@ -1887,8 +1887,8 @@
         // start the file output
         covLogXML.StartElement("File");
         covLogXML.Attribute("Name", i->first);
-        covLogXML.Attribute(
-          "FullPath", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(i->second.c_str()));
+        covLogXML.Attribute("FullPath",
+                            this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(i->second));
         covLogXML.StartElement("Report");
         // write the bullseye header
         line = 0;
@@ -2064,8 +2064,7 @@
       total_untested += (totalFunctions - functionsCalled);
 
       std::string fileName = cmSystemTools::GetFilenameName(file);
-      std::string shortFileName =
-        this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(file.c_str());
+      std::string shortFileName = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(file);
 
       float cper = static_cast<float>(percentBranch + percentFunction);
       if (totalBranches > 0) {
@@ -2266,7 +2265,7 @@
       // is the end of the target-wide labels.
       inTarget = false;
 
-      source = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(line.c_str());
+      source = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(line);
 
       // Label the source with the target labels.
       LabelSet& labelSet = this->SourceLabels[source];
@@ -2320,7 +2319,7 @@
 
   // The source is filtered out if it does not have any labels in
   // common with the filter set.
-  std::string shortSrc = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(source.c_str());
+  std::string shortSrc = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(source);
   auto li = this->SourceLabels.find(shortSrc);
   if (li != this->SourceLabels.end()) {
     return !this->IntersectsFilter(li->second);
@@ -2342,14 +2341,14 @@
     std::vector<std::string> files = gl.GetFiles();
     for (std::string const& f : files) {
       if (this->ShouldIDoCoverage(f, cont->SourceDir, cont->BinaryDir)) {
-        extraMatches.insert(this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(f.c_str()));
+        extraMatches.insert(this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(f));
       }
     }
   }
 
   if (!extraMatches.empty()) {
     for (auto const& i : cont->TotalCoverage) {
-      std::string shortPath = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(i.first.c_str());
+      std::string shortPath = this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(i.first);
       extraMatches.erase(shortPath);
     }
   }
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestGenericHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestGenericHandler.cxx
index cc0b4ed..a71f550 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestGenericHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestGenericHandler.cxx
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
                                                     << std::endl);
     return false;
   }
-  this->CTest->AddSubmitFile(part, ostr.str().c_str());
+  this->CTest->AddSubmitFile(part, ostr.str());
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestHandlerCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestHandlerCommand.cxx
index a755632..03b7173 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestHandlerCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestHandlerCommand.cxx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "cmExecutionStatus.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmMessageType.h"
+#include "cmProperty.h"
 #include "cmStringAlgorithms.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 #include "cmWorkingDirectory.h"
@@ -125,23 +126,21 @@
   // CTEST_CONFIGURATION_TYPE script variable if it is defined.
   // The current script value trumps the -C argument on the command
   // line.
-  const char* ctestConfigType =
-    this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_CONFIGURATION_TYPE");
+  cmProp ctestConfigType = this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_CONFIGURATION_TYPE");
   if (ctestConfigType) {
-    this->CTest->SetConfigType(ctestConfigType);
+    this->CTest->SetConfigType(*ctestConfigType);
   }
 
   if (!this->Build.empty()) {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
-      "BuildDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(this->Build).c_str(),
+      "BuildDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(this->Build),
       this->Quiet);
   } else {
     std::string const& bdir =
       this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY");
     if (!bdir.empty()) {
       this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
-        "BuildDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(bdir).c_str(),
-        this->Quiet);
+        "BuildDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(bdir), this->Quiet);
     } else {
       cmCTestLog(this->CTest, ERROR_MESSAGE,
                  "CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY not set" << std::endl;);
@@ -151,20 +150,18 @@
     cmCTestLog(this->CTest, DEBUG,
                "Set source directory to: " << this->Source << std::endl);
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
-      "SourceDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(this->Source).c_str(),
+      "SourceDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(this->Source),
       this->Quiet);
   } else {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
       "SourceDirectory",
       cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(
-        this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY"))
-        .c_str(),
+        this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY")),
       this->Quiet);
   }
 
-  if (const char* changeId =
-        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_CHANGE_ID")) {
-    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("ChangeId", changeId, this->Quiet);
+  if (cmProp changeId = this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_CHANGE_ID")) {
+    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("ChangeId", *changeId, this->Quiet);
   }
 
   cmCTestLog(this->CTest, DEBUG, "Initialize handler" << std::endl;);
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestMemCheckHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestMemCheckHandler.cxx
index d2772a7..822049e 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestMemCheckHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestMemCheckHandler.cxx
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@
   cmCTestMemCheckHandler::TestResultsVector::size_type cc;
   for (cmCTestTestResult const& result : this->TestResults) {
     std::string testPath = result.Path + "/" + result.Name;
-    xml.Element("Test", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(testPath.c_str()));
+    xml.Element("Test", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(testPath));
   }
   xml.EndElement(); // TestList
   cmCTestOptionalLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_OUTPUT,
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestReadCustomFilesCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestReadCustomFilesCommand.cxx
index ed14d06..a25cca4 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestReadCustomFilesCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestReadCustomFilesCommand.cxx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
   }
 
   for (std::string const& arg : args) {
-    this->CTest->ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(arg.c_str(), this->Makefile);
+    this->CTest->ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(arg, this->Makefile);
   }
 
   return true;
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunTest.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunTest.cxx
index 2c8e385..4d65c9b 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunTest.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunTest.cxx
@@ -619,11 +619,11 @@
     cmCTestMemCheckHandler* handler =
       static_cast<cmCTestMemCheckHandler*>(this->TestHandler);
     this->ActualCommand = handler->MemoryTester;
-    this->TestProperties->Args[1] = this->TestHandler->FindTheExecutable(
-      this->TestProperties->Args[1].c_str());
+    this->TestProperties->Args[1] =
+      this->TestHandler->FindTheExecutable(this->TestProperties->Args[1]);
   } else {
-    this->ActualCommand = this->TestHandler->FindTheExecutable(
-      this->TestProperties->Args[1].c_str());
+    this->ActualCommand =
+      this->TestHandler->FindTheExecutable(this->TestProperties->Args[1]);
     ++j; // skip the executable (it will be actualCommand)
   }
   std::string testCommand =
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx
index fe68406..6398d66 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx
@@ -94,10 +94,9 @@
 
   std::string sourceDir = cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(src_dir);
   std::string binaryDir = cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(bld_dir);
-  this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("SourceDirectory", sourceDir.c_str(),
+  this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("SourceDirectory", sourceDir,
                                      this->Quiet);
-  this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("BuildDirectory", binaryDir.c_str(),
-                                     this->Quiet);
+  this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("BuildDirectory", binaryDir, this->Quiet);
 
   if (smodel) {
     cmCTestOptionalLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_OUTPUT,
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitCommand.cxx
index 279216e..026e98f 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitCommand.cxx
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@
 
 cmCTestGenericHandler* cmCTestSubmitCommand::InitializeHandler()
 {
-  const char* submitURL = !this->SubmitURL.empty()
-    ? this->SubmitURL.c_str()
-    : this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_SUBMIT_URL");
+  const std::string* submitURL = !this->SubmitURL.empty()
+    ? &this->SubmitURL
+    : this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_SUBMIT_URL");
 
   if (submitURL) {
-    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("SubmitURL", submitURL, this->Quiet);
+    this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("SubmitURL", *submitURL, this->Quiet);
   } else {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfigurationFromCMakeVariable(
       this->Makefile, "DropMethod", "CTEST_DROP_METHOD", this->Quiet);
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
   if (this->PartsMentioned) {
     auto parts =
       cmMakeRange(this->Parts).transform([this](std::string const& arg) {
-        return this->CTest->GetPartFromName(arg.c_str());
+        return this->CTest->GetPartFromName(arg);
       });
     handler->SelectParts(std::set<cmCTest::Part>(parts.begin(), parts.end()));
   }
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
     !this->Files.empty() || cm::contains(keywords, "FILES");
 
   cm::erase_if(this->Parts, [this](std::string const& arg) -> bool {
-    cmCTest::Part p = this->CTest->GetPartFromName(arg.c_str());
+    cmCTest::Part p = this->CTest->GetPartFromName(arg);
     if (p == cmCTest::PartCount) {
       std::ostringstream e;
       e << "Part name \"" << arg << "\" is invalid.";
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitHandler.cxx
index ea36df5..5b54573 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestSubmitHandler.cxx
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@
         gfile = gfile.substr(glen);
         cmCTestOptionalLog(this->CTest, DEBUG,
                            "Glob file: " << gfile << std::endl, this->Quiet);
-        this->CTest->AddSubmitFile(cmCTest::PartCoverage, gfile.c_str());
+        this->CTest->AddSubmitFile(cmCTest::PartCoverage, gfile);
       }
     } else {
       cmCTestLog(this->CTest, ERROR_MESSAGE, "Problem globbing" << std::endl);
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestCommand.cxx
index c71b409..07ea912 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestCommand.cxx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "cmCTestTestHandler.h"
 #include "cmDuration.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
+#include "cmProperty.h"
 #include "cmStringAlgorithms.h"
 
 void cmCTestTestCommand::BindArguments()
@@ -134,10 +135,10 @@
   }
   handler->SetTestLoad(testLoad);
 
-  if (const char* labelsForSubprojects =
-        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_LABELS_FOR_SUBPROJECTS")) {
+  if (cmProp labelsForSubprojects =
+        this->Makefile->GetDef("CTEST_LABELS_FOR_SUBPROJECTS")) {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration("LabelsForSubprojects",
-                                       labelsForSubprojects, this->Quiet);
+                                       *labelsForSubprojects, this->Quiet);
   }
 
   handler->SetQuiet(this->Quiet);
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.cxx
index d0dbaae..70e84ee 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.cxx
@@ -1374,7 +1374,7 @@
   xml.StartElement("TestList");
   for (cmCTestTestResult const& result : this->TestResults) {
     std::string testPath = result.Path + "/" + result.Name;
-    xml.Element("Test", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(testPath.c_str()));
+    xml.Element("Test", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(testPath));
   }
   xml.EndElement(); // TestList
   for (cmCTestTestResult& result : this->TestResults) {
@@ -1483,8 +1483,8 @@
   }
   std::string testPath = result.Path + "/" + result.Name;
   xml.Element("Name", result.Name);
-  xml.Element("Path", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(result.Path.c_str()));
-  xml.Element("FullName", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(testPath.c_str()));
+  xml.Element("Path", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(result.Path));
+  xml.Element("FullName", this->CTest->GetShortPathToFile(testPath));
   xml.Element("FullCommandLine", result.FullCommandLine);
 }
 
@@ -1546,12 +1546,12 @@
 }
 
 // Find the appropriate executable to run for a test
-std::string cmCTestTestHandler::FindTheExecutable(const char* exe)
+std::string cmCTestTestHandler::FindTheExecutable(const std::string& exe)
 {
   std::string resConfig;
   std::vector<std::string> extraPaths;
   std::vector<std::string> failedPaths;
-  if (strcmp(exe, "NOT_AVAILABLE") == 0) {
+  if (exe == "NOT_AVAILABLE") {
     return exe;
   }
   return cmCTestTestHandler::FindExecutable(this->CTest, exe, resConfig,
@@ -1607,7 +1607,7 @@
 
 // Find the appropriate executable to run for a test
 std::string cmCTestTestHandler::FindExecutable(
-  cmCTest* ctest, const char* testCommand, std::string& resultingConfig,
+  cmCTest* ctest, const std::string& testCommand, std::string& resultingConfig,
   std::vector<std::string>& extraPaths, std::vector<std::string>& failed)
 {
   // now run the compiled test if we can find it
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.h b/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.h
index 0d88c30..b26f8a6 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.h
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestTestHandler.h
@@ -198,7 +198,8 @@
                                 std::string filepath, std::string& filename);
 
   // full signature static method to find an executable
-  static std::string FindExecutable(cmCTest* ctest, const char* testCommand,
+  static std::string FindExecutable(cmCTest* ctest,
+                                    const std::string& testCommand,
                                     std::string& resultingConfig,
                                     std::vector<std::string>& extraPaths,
                                     std::vector<std::string>& failed);
@@ -309,7 +310,7 @@
   /**
    * Find the executable for a test
    */
-  std::string FindTheExecutable(const char* exe);
+  std::string FindTheExecutable(const std::string& exe);
 
   std::string GetTestStatus(cmCTestTestResult const&);
   void ExpandTestsToRunInformation(size_t numPossibleTests);
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestUpdateCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestUpdateCommand.cxx
index 673eb9a..95cae13 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestUpdateCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestUpdateCommand.cxx
@@ -11,14 +11,13 @@
 {
   if (!this->Source.empty()) {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
-      "SourceDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(this->Source).c_str(),
+      "SourceDirectory", cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(this->Source),
       this->Quiet);
   } else {
     this->CTest->SetCTestConfiguration(
       "SourceDirectory",
       cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(
-        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY"))
-        .c_str(),
+        this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY")),
       this->Quiet);
   }
   std::string source_dir =
diff --git a/Source/cmCTest.cxx b/Source/cmCTest.cxx
index 4254e2e..a5fde89 100644
--- a/Source/cmCTest.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCTest.cxx
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
   return this->Impl->CompressTestOutput;
 }
 
-cmCTest::Part cmCTest::GetPartFromName(const char* name)
+cmCTest::Part cmCTest::GetPartFromName(const std::string& name)
 {
   // Look up by lower-case to make names case-insensitive.
   std::string lower_name = cmSystemTools::LowerCase(name);
@@ -458,8 +458,7 @@
   cm.GetCurrentSnapshot().SetDefaultDefinitions();
   cmGlobalGenerator gg(&cm);
   cmMakefile mf(&gg, cm.GetCurrentSnapshot());
-  if (!this->ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(this->Impl->BinaryDir.c_str(),
-                                             &mf)) {
+  if (!this->ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(this->Impl->BinaryDir, &mf)) {
     cmCTestOptionalLog(
       this, DEBUG, "Cannot find custom configuration file tree" << std::endl,
       quiet);
@@ -523,7 +522,7 @@
         std::string model;
         if (cmSystemTools::GetLineFromStream(tfin, model) &&
             !this->Impl->Parts[PartStart] && !command) {
-          this->Impl->TestModel = GetTestModelFromString(model.c_str());
+          this->Impl->TestModel = GetTestModelFromString(model);
         }
         tfin.close();
       }
@@ -579,7 +578,7 @@
         cmSystemTools::GetLineFromStream(tfin, tag);
         cmSystemTools::GetLineFromStream(tfin, group);
         if (cmSystemTools::GetLineFromStream(tfin, modelStr)) {
-          model = GetTestModelFromString(modelStr.c_str());
+          model = GetTestModelFromString(modelStr);
         }
         tfin.close();
       }
@@ -793,7 +792,7 @@
   return this->Impl->TestModel;
 }
 
-bool cmCTest::SetTest(const char* ttype, bool report)
+bool cmCTest::SetTest(const std::string& ttype, bool report)
 {
   if (cmSystemTools::LowerCase(ttype) == "all") {
     for (Part p = PartStart; p != PartCount; p = Part(p + 1)) {
@@ -856,7 +855,7 @@
   return true;
 }
 
-bool cmCTest::AddIfExists(Part part, const char* file)
+bool cmCTest::AddIfExists(Part part, const std::string& file)
 {
   if (this->CTestFileExists(file)) {
     this->AddSubmitFile(part, file);
@@ -1008,7 +1007,7 @@
   if (this->Impl->Parts[PartNotes]) {
     this->UpdateCTestConfiguration();
     if (!this->Impl->NotesFiles.empty()) {
-      this->GenerateNotesFile(this->Impl->NotesFiles.c_str());
+      this->GenerateNotesFile(this->Impl->NotesFiles);
     }
   }
   if (this->Impl->Parts[PartSubmit]) {
@@ -1037,9 +1036,9 @@
   return "Experimental";
 }
 
-int cmCTest::GetTestModelFromString(const char* str)
+int cmCTest::GetTestModelFromString(const std::string& str)
 {
-  if (!str) {
+  if (str.empty()) {
     return cmCTest::EXPERIMENTAL;
   }
   std::string rstr = cmSystemTools::LowerCase(str);
@@ -1565,9 +1564,9 @@
   return 0;
 }
 
-int cmCTest::GenerateNotesFile(const char* cfiles)
+int cmCTest::GenerateNotesFile(const std::string& cfiles)
 {
-  if (!cfiles) {
+  if (cfiles.empty()) {
     return 1;
   }
 
@@ -1650,14 +1649,14 @@
                                             << std::endl;);
       return false;
     }
-    this->AddSubmitFile(PartExtraFiles, file.c_str());
+    this->AddSubmitFile(PartExtraFiles, file);
   }
   return true;
 }
 
-bool cmCTest::SubmitExtraFiles(const char* cfiles)
+bool cmCTest::SubmitExtraFiles(const std::string& cfiles)
 {
-  if (!cfiles) {
+  if (cfiles.empty()) {
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -1941,7 +1940,7 @@
   else if (this->CheckArgument(arg, "-C"_s, "--build-config") &&
            i < args.size() - 1) {
     i++;
-    this->SetConfigType(args[i].c_str());
+    this->SetConfigType(args[i]);
   }
 
   else if (this->CheckArgument(arg, "--debug"_s)) {
@@ -2016,7 +2015,7 @@
   else if (this->CheckArgument(arg, "-O"_s, "--output-log") &&
            i < args.size() - 1) {
     i++;
-    this->SetOutputLogFileName(args[i].c_str());
+    this->SetOutputLogFileName(args[i]);
   }
 
   else if (this->CheckArgument(arg, "--tomorrow-tag"_s)) {
@@ -2048,7 +2047,7 @@
     this->Impl->ProduceXML = true;
     this->SetTest("Notes");
     i++;
-    this->SetNotesFiles(args[i].c_str());
+    this->SetNotesFiles(args[i]);
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -2305,7 +2304,7 @@
       this->Impl->ProduceXML = true;
       this->SetTest("Submit");
       i++;
-      if (!this->SubmitExtraFiles(args[i].c_str())) {
+      if (!this->SubmitExtraFiles(args[i])) {
         return 0;
       }
     }
@@ -2376,7 +2375,7 @@
       (i < args.size() - 1)) {
     this->Impl->ProduceXML = true;
     i++;
-    if (!this->SetTest(args[i].c_str(), false)) {
+    if (!this->SetTest(args[i], false)) {
       success = false;
       cmCTestLog(this, ERROR_MESSAGE,
                  "CTest -T called with incorrect option: " << args[i]
@@ -2491,11 +2490,8 @@
   return retv;
 }
 
-void cmCTest::SetNotesFiles(const char* notes)
+void cmCTest::SetNotesFiles(const std::string& notes)
 {
-  if (!notes) {
-    return;
-  }
   this->Impl->NotesFiles = notes;
 }
 
@@ -2561,7 +2557,8 @@
   this->Impl->ScheduleType = type;
 }
 
-int cmCTest::ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(const char* dir, cmMakefile* mf)
+int cmCTest::ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(const std::string& dir,
+                                             cmMakefile* mf)
 {
   bool found = false;
   cmCTestLog(this, DEBUG,
@@ -2648,7 +2645,7 @@
   val = atoi(dval);
 }
 
-std::string cmCTest::GetShortPathToFile(const char* cfname)
+std::string cmCTest::GetShortPathToFile(const std::string& cfname)
 {
   const std::string& sourceDir = cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(
     this->GetCTestConfiguration("SourceDirectory"));
@@ -2712,18 +2709,17 @@
   this->Impl->CTestConfiguration.clear();
 }
 
-void cmCTest::SetCTestConfiguration(const char* name, const char* value,
+void cmCTest::SetCTestConfiguration(const char* name, const std::string& value,
                                     bool suppress)
 {
   cmCTestOptionalLog(this, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
-                     "SetCTestConfiguration:"
-                       << name << ":" << (value ? value : "(null)") << "\n",
+                     "SetCTestConfiguration:" << name << ":" << value << "\n",
                      suppress);
 
   if (!name) {
     return;
   }
-  if (!value) {
+  if (value.empty()) {
     this->Impl->CTestConfiguration.erase(name);
     return;
   }
@@ -2928,7 +2924,7 @@
   return this->Impl->BuildID;
 }
 
-void cmCTest::AddSubmitFile(Part part, const char* name)
+void cmCTest::AddSubmitFile(Part part, const std::string& name)
 {
   this->Impl->Parts[part].SubmitFiles.emplace_back(name);
 }
@@ -2964,9 +2960,9 @@
   this->Impl->CTestConfigurationOverwrites[key] = value;
 }
 
-void cmCTest::SetConfigType(const char* ct)
+void cmCTest::SetConfigType(const std::string& ct)
 {
-  this->Impl->ConfigType = ct ? ct : "";
+  this->Impl->ConfigType = ct;
   cmSystemTools::ReplaceString(this->Impl->ConfigType, ".\\", "");
   std::string confTypeEnv = "CMAKE_CONFIG_TYPE=" + this->Impl->ConfigType;
   cmSystemTools::PutEnv(confTypeEnv);
@@ -2976,8 +2972,7 @@
   cmMakefile* mf, const char* dconfig, const std::string& cmake_var,
   bool suppress)
 {
-  const char* ctvar;
-  ctvar = mf->GetDefinition(cmake_var);
+  cmProp ctvar = mf->GetDef(cmake_var);
   if (!ctvar) {
     return false;
   }
@@ -2985,7 +2980,7 @@
                      "SetCTestConfigurationFromCMakeVariable:"
                        << dconfig << ":" << cmake_var << std::endl,
                      suppress);
-  this->SetCTestConfiguration(dconfig, ctvar, suppress);
+  this->SetCTestConfiguration(dconfig, *ctvar, suppress);
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -3086,9 +3081,9 @@
   return result;
 }
 
-void cmCTest::SetOutputLogFileName(const char* name)
+void cmCTest::SetOutputLogFileName(const std::string& name)
 {
-  if (name) {
+  if (!name.empty()) {
     this->Impl->OutputLogFile = cm::make_unique<cmGeneratedFileStream>(name);
   } else {
     this->Impl->OutputLogFile.reset();
diff --git a/Source/cmCTest.h b/Source/cmCTest.h
index a39b8fe..1e0fb8c 100644
--- a/Source/cmCTest.h
+++ b/Source/cmCTest.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
 
   /** Get a testing part id from its string name.  Returns PartCount
       if the string does not name a valid part.  */
-  Part GetPartFromName(const char* name);
+  Part GetPartFromName(const std::string& name);
 
   /** Process Command line arguments */
   int Run(std::vector<std::string>&, std::string* output = nullptr);
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@
    * Check if CTest file exists
    */
   bool CTestFileExists(const std::string& filename);
-  bool AddIfExists(Part part, const char* file);
+  bool AddIfExists(Part part, const std::string& file);
 
   /**
    * Set the cmake test
    */
-  bool SetTest(const char*, bool report = true);
+  bool SetTest(const std::string&, bool report = true);
 
   /**
    * Set the cmake test mode (experimental, nightly, continuous).
@@ -141,11 +141,11 @@
   int GetTestModel() const;
 
   std::string GetTestModelString();
-  static int GetTestModelFromString(const char* str);
+  static int GetTestModelFromString(const std::string& str);
   static std::string CleanString(const std::string& str,
                                  std::string::size_type spos = 0);
   std::string GetCTestConfiguration(const std::string& name);
-  void SetCTestConfiguration(const char* name, const char* value,
+  void SetCTestConfiguration(const char* name, const std::string& value,
                              bool suppress = false);
   void EmptyCTestConfiguration();
 
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
   cmCTest& operator=(const cmCTest&) = delete;
 
   /** Set the notes files to be created. */
-  void SetNotesFiles(const char* notes);
+  void SetNotesFiles(const std::string& notes);
 
   void PopulateCustomVector(cmMakefile* mf, const std::string& definition,
                             std::vector<std::string>& vec);
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@
    * This means if the file is in binary or
    * source directory, it will become /.../relative/path/to/file
    */
-  std::string GetShortPathToFile(const char* fname);
+  std::string GetShortPathToFile(const std::string& fname);
 
   enum
   {
@@ -354,14 +354,14 @@
   int GenerateDoneFile();
 
   /** Submit extra files to the server */
-  bool SubmitExtraFiles(const char* files);
+  bool SubmitExtraFiles(const std::string& files);
   bool SubmitExtraFiles(std::vector<std::string> const& files);
 
   /** Set the output log file name */
-  void SetOutputLogFileName(const char* name);
+  void SetOutputLogFileName(const std::string& name);
 
   /** Set the visual studio or Xcode config type */
-  void SetConfigType(const char* ct);
+  void SetConfigType(const std::string& ct);
 
   /** Various log types */
   enum
@@ -399,14 +399,14 @@
   std::string GetBuildID() const;
 
   /** Add file to be submitted */
-  void AddSubmitFile(Part part, const char* name);
+  void AddSubmitFile(Part part, const std::string& name);
   std::vector<std::string> const& GetSubmitFiles(Part part) const;
   void ClearSubmitFiles(Part part);
 
   /**
    * Read the custom configuration files and apply them to the current ctest
    */
-  int ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(const char* dir, cmMakefile* mf);
+  int ReadCustomConfigurationFileTree(const std::string& dir, cmMakefile* mf);
 
   std::vector<std::string>& GetInitialCommandLineArguments();
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@
   void SetRunCurrentScript(bool value);
 
 private:
-  int GenerateNotesFile(const char* files);
+  int GenerateNotesFile(const std::string& files);
 
   void BlockTestErrorDiagnostics();