Building a program refers to the process of taking editable source code and other files and transforming them into a finished software product through various steps like preprocessing, compiling, linking, testing, and packaging. CMake is a cross-platform build system developed by Kitware in 2001 that consists of tools like CMake, Ctest, and CPack to manage the entire build process across different platforms.

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Building a ProjectBuilding a Project

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Wait.....Wait.....
I've heard about compiling a I've heard about compiling a
program, but what does building a program, but what does building a
program mean?program mean?

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"Building" is a fairly general term, and it can "Building" is a fairly general term, and it can
refer to anything that is needed to go from refer to anything that is needed to go from
editable source material (source code, scripts, editable source material (source code, scripts,
raw data files, etc.) to a shippable software raw data files, etc.) to a shippable software
product. product.
Building can (and usually does) involve Building can (and usually does) involve
several steps, such as pre­processing, several steps, such as pre­processing,
compiling, linking, converting data files, compiling, linking, converting data files,
running automated tests, packaging, etc.running automated tests, packaging, etc.

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CMakeCMake
CMake is a sophisticated, cross­platform, CMake is a sophisticated, cross­platform,
open­source build system developed by open­source build system developed by
Kitware in 2001. Kitware in 2001.
CMake is the name used to refer to the entire CMake is the name used to refer to the entire
family of tools: family of tools:
CMake CMake
CtestCtest
CdashCdash
CPack CPack