add_dependencies

Add a dependency between top-level targets.

add_dependencies(<target> [<target-dependency>]...)

Makes a top-level <target> depend on other top-level targets to ensure that they build before <target> does. A top-level target is one created by one of the add_executable(), add_library(), or add_custom_target() commands (but not targets generated by CMake like install).

Dependencies added to an imported target or an interface library are followed transitively in its place since the target itself does not build.

New in version 3.3: Allow adding dependencies to interface libraries.

New in version 3.8: Dependencies will populate the MANUALLY_ADDED_DEPENDENCIES property of <target>.

Changed in version 3.9: The Ninja Generators use weaker ordering than other generators in order to improve available concurrency. They only guarantee that the dependencies' custom commands are finished before sources in <target> start compiling; this ensures generated sources are available.

See Also

• The DEPENDS option of add_custom_target() and add_custom_command() commands for adding file-level dependencies in custom rules.

• The OBJECT_DEPENDS source file property to add file-level dependencies to object files.