Using SDL2 and SDL_image with CMake

In this article, we delve into the steps of using the SDL2 graphics library and the SDL_image extension in your C project with the help of CMake.

Configuring Project and Dependencies

project(shooter-cmake2)
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8)

set(SOURCES shooter.cpp classes.cpp utils.cpp)
set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c  0x")

add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${SOURCES})

Finding SDL2 and SDL_image

Next, CMake will search for and interact with the system package manager to locate SDL2 and SDL_image. If present, it will fetch the necessary header and library paths.

INCLUDE(FindPkgConfig)
PKG_SEARCH_MODULE(SDL2 REQUIRED sdl2)
PKG_SEARCH_MODULE(SDL2_image REQUIRED SDL2_image>=2.0.0)

Including Headers and Linking Libraries

INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${SDL2_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${SDL2IMAGE_INCLUDE_DIRS})
TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(${PROJECT_NAME} ${SDL2_LIBRARIES} ${SDL2IMAGE_LIBRARIES})

Resolving Linkage Errors

In the original attempt, the linkage error was encountered due to the incorrect library name used in PKG_SEARCH_MODULE for SDL_image. The correct name is SDL2_image>=2.0.0. Additionally, checking the pkgconfig files for the libraries may provide additional insights into configuration issues.

Testing the Configuration

To run the code example provided, ensure you have access to the loadTexture function. Remember, the exact requirements and configuration may vary depending on your system.