[cmake-developers] Alternative CMake Syntax

[Taylor Holberton]

Hello everyone,

I've been thinking about designing a new syntax for CMake that better
expresses some of the functionality that I've seen in modern CMake code.
I've started a CMake parsing library and plan on using it to design the new
syntax while maintaining support for the traditional syntax as well.

You can read from about the project goals at
https://github.com/tay10r/cmake-lang

The new syntax will be a domain specific language. I've thought about using
Lua or similar, but I agree with one point made about a general purpose
language for CMake - it would be too tempting for programmers to turn the
build script into a monolithic system. The build system should, for the
most part, be extremely simple to read and maintain. I think a domain
specific language would accomplish this best.

I was hoping to get some input from the mailing list on what might be
desirable in a new syntax. Any information I can get would be helpful! I
don't want to come up with a new syntax without at least getting a little
bit of advice from the people who use the language the most.

Thanks in advance!
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