Help/command/add_subdirectory.rst

add_subdirectory
----------------

Add a subdirectory to the build.

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_subdirectory(source_dir [binary_dir] [EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL] [SYSTEM])

Adds a subdirectory to the build.  The ``source_dir`` specifies the
directory in which the source ``CMakeLists.txt`` and code files are
located.  If it is a relative path, it will be evaluated with respect
to the current directory (the typical usage), but it may also be an
absolute path.  The ``binary_dir`` specifies the directory in which to
place the output files.  If it is a relative path, it will be evaluated
with respect to the current output directory, but it may also be an
absolute path.  If ``binary_dir`` is not specified, the value of
``source_dir``, before expanding any relative path, will be used (the
typical usage).  The ``CMakeLists.txt`` file in the specified source
directory will be processed immediately by CMake before processing in
the current input file continues beyond this command.

If the ``EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL`` argument is provided then targets in the
subdirectory will not be included in the ``ALL`` target of the parent
directory by default, and will be excluded from IDE project files.
Users must explicitly build targets in the subdirectory.  This is
meant for use when the subdirectory contains a separate part of the
project that is useful but not necessary, such as a set of examples.
Typically the subdirectory should contain its own :command:`project`
command invocation so that a full build system will be generated in the
subdirectory (such as a Visual Studio IDE solution file).  Note that
inter-target dependencies supersede this exclusion.  If a target built by
the parent project depends on a target in the subdirectory, the dependee
target will be included in the parent project build system to satisfy
the dependency.

.. versionadded:: 3.25
  If the ``SYSTEM`` argument is provided, the :prop_dir:`SYSTEM` directory
  property of the subdirectory will be set to true.  This property is
  used to initialize the :prop_tgt:`SYSTEM` property of each non-imported
  target created in that subdirectory.