Add "Build System" section to godot-cpp docs (SCons and CMake).

Author: Ivorforce

tutorials/scripting/cpp/build_system/cmake.rst

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+Secondary build system: Working with CMake
+==========================================
+
+.. seealso:: This page documents how to compile godot-cpp. If you're looking to compile Godot instead, see
+             :ref:`doc_introduction_to_the_buildsystem`.
+
+Beside the primary `SCons <https://scons.org>`__ based build system, godot-cpp also comes with a
+`CMakeLists.txt <https://github.com/godotengine/godot-cpp/blob/master/CMakeLists.txt>`__ file, to support users that
+prefer using `CMake <https://cmake.org>`__ over SCons for their build system.
+
+While actively supported, it is considered secondary to the SCons build system. This means it may lack some features
+that are available to projects using SCons.
+
+.. warning::
+
+    The CMake scripts do not have feature parity with the SCons ones at this
+    stage and are still a work in progress. There are a number of people who
+    have been working on alternative CMake solutions that are frequently
+    referenced in the Discord chats: Ivan's cmake-rewrite_ branch and
+    Vorlac's godot-roguelite_ project.
+
+.. _cmake-rewrite: https://github.com/IvanInventor/godot-cpp/tree/cmake-rewrite
+.. _godot-roguelite: https://github.com/vorlac/godot-roguelite
+
+Introduction
+------------
+
+Compiling godot-cpp independently of an extension project is mainly for
+godot-cpp developers, package maintainers, and CI/CD. Look to the
+godot-cpp-template_ for a practical example on how to consume the godot-cpp
+library as part of a Godot extension.
+
+Configuration examples are listed at the bottom of the page.
+
+.. _godot-cpp-template: https://github.com/godotengine/godot-cpp-template
+
+Debug vs template_debug
+-----------------------
+
+Something that has come come up many times is the conflation of a compilation of C++
+source code with debug symbols enabled, and compiling a Godot extension with
+debug features enabled. The two concepts are not mutually inclusive.
+
+- debug_features
+    Enables a pre-processor definition to selectively compile code to help
+    users of a Godot extension with their own project.
+
+    debug features are enabled in editor and template_debug builds, which can be specified during the configure phase like so:
+
+	``cmake -S . -B cmake-build -DGODOTCPP_TARGET=<target choice>``
+
+- Debug
+    Sets compiler flags so that debug symbols are generated to help godot
+    extension developers debug their extension.
+
+    ``Debug`` is the default build type for CMake projects, to select another it depends on the generator used
+
+    For single configuration generators, add to the configure command:
+
+	``-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=<type>``
+
+    For multi-config generators add to the build command:
+
+	``--config <type>``
+
+    where ``<type>`` is one of ``Debug``, ``Release``, ``RelWithDebInfo``, ``MinSizeRel``
+
+
+SCons Deviations
+----------------
+
+Not everything from SCons can be perfectly represented in CMake, here are
+the notable differences.
+
+- debug_symbols
+    No longer has an explicit option, and is enabled via Debug-like CMake
+    build configurations; ``Debug``, ``RelWithDebInfo``.
+
+- dev_build
+    Does not define ``NDEBUG`` when disabled, ``NDEBUG`` is set via Release-like
+    CMake build configurations; ``Release``, ``MinSizeRel``.
+
+- arch
+    CMake sets the architecture via the toolchain files, macOS universal is controlled via the ``CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES``
+    property which is copied to targets when they are defined.
+
+- debug_crt
+    CMake controls linking to Windows runtime libraries by copying the value of ``CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARIES`` to targets as they are defined.
+    godot-cpp will set this variable if it isn't already set. So, include it before other dependencies to have the value propagate across the projects.
+
+Testing Integration
+-------------------
+
+The testing target ``godot-cpp-test`` is guarded by ``GODOTCPP_ENABLE_TESTING`` which is off by default.
+
+To configure and build the godot-cpp project to enable the integration
+testing targets the command will look something like:
+
+.. code-block::
+
+    # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+    cmake -S . -B cmake-build -DGODOTCPP_ENABLE_TESTING=YES
+    cmake --build cmake-build --target godot-cpp-test
+
+Basic walkthrough
+-----------------
+
+.. topic:: Clone the git repository
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        git clone https://github.com/godotengine/godot-cpp.git
+        Cloning into 'godot-cpp'...
+        ...
+        cd godot-cpp
+
+.. topic:: Options
+
+    To list the available options CMake use the ``-L[AH]`` option. ``A`` is for
+    advanced, and ``H`` is for help strings:
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        cmake .. -LH
+
+    Options are specified on the command line when configuring, for example:
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        cmake .. -DGODOTCPP_USE_HOT_RELOAD:BOOL=ON \
+            -DGODOTCPP_PRECISION:STRING=double \
+            -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=Debug
+
+    Review setting-build-variables_ and build-configurations_ for more information.
+
+    .. _setting-build-variables: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/guide/user-interaction/index.html#setting-build-variables
+    .. _build-configurations: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-buildsystem.7.html#build-configurations
+
+    A non-exhaustive list of options:
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        // Path to a custom GDExtension API JSON file. (takes precedence over `GODOTCPP_GDEXTENSION_DIR`) ( /path/to/custom_api_file )
+        GODOTCPP_CUSTOM_API_FILE:FILEPATH=
+
+        // Force disabling exception handling code. (ON|OFF)
+        GODOTCPP_DISABLE_EXCEPTIONS:BOOL=ON
+
+        // Path to a custom directory containing the GDExtension interface header and API JSON file. ( /path/to/gdextension_dir )
+        GODOTCPP_GDEXTENSION_DIR:PATH=gdextension
+
+        // Set the floating-point precision level. (single|double)
+        GODOTCPP_PRECISION:STRING=single
+
+        // Enable the extra accounting required to support hot reload. (ON|OFF)
+        GODOTCPP_USE_HOT_RELOAD:BOOL=
+
+.. topic:: Configure the build
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        cmake -S . -B cmake-build -G Ninja
+
+    ``-S .`` Specifies the source directory
+
+    ``-B cmake-build`` Specifies the build directory
+
+    ``-G Ninja`` Specifies the Generator
+
+    The source directory in this example is the source code for godot-cpp.
+    The build directory is so that generated files do not clutter up the source tree.
+    CMake doesn't build the code, it generates the files that another tool uses
+    to build the code, in this case Ninja.
+    To see the list of generators run ``cmake --help``.
+
+.. topic:: Compiling
+
+    Tell CMake to invoke the build system it generated in the specified directory.
+    The default target is ``template_debug`` and the default build configuration is Debug.
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        cmake --build cmake-build
+
+Examples
+--------
+
+Windows and MSVC - Release
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+So long as CMake is installed from the `CMake Downloads`_ page and in the PATH,
+and Microsoft Visual Studio is installed with C++ support, CMake will detect
+the MSVC compiler.
+
+Note that Visual Studio is a Multi-Config Generator so the build configuration
+needs to be specified at build time, for example, ``--config Release``.
+
+.. _CMake downloads: https://cmake.org/download/
+
+.. code-block::
+
+    # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+    cmake -S . -B cmake-build -DGODOTCPP_ENABLE_TESTING=YES
+    cmake --build cmake-build -t godot-cpp-test --config Release
+
+
+MSys2/clang64, "Ninja" - Debug
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Assumes the ``ming-w64-clang-x86_64``-toolchain is installed.
+
+Note that Ninja is a Single-Config Generator so the build type
+needs to be specified at configuration time.
+
+Using the ``msys2/clang64`` shell:
+
+.. code-block::
+
+    # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+    cmake -S . -B cmake-build -G"Ninja" -DGODOTCPP_ENABLE_TESTING=YES -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+    cmake --build cmake-build -t godot-cpp-test
+
+MSys2/clang64, "Ninja Multi-Config" - dev_build, Debug Symbols
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Assumes the ``ming-w64-clang-x86_64``-toolchain is installed.
+
+This time we are choosing the 'Ninja Multi-Config' generator, so the build
+type is specified at build time.
+
+Using the ``msys2/clang64`` shell:
+
+.. code-block::
+
+    # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+    cmake -S . -B cmake-build -G"Ninja Multi-Config" -DGODOTCPP_ENABLE_TESTING=YES -DGODOTCPP_DEV_BUILD:BOOL=ON
+    cmake --build cmake-build -t godot-cpp-test --config Debug
+
+Emscripten for web platform
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+This has only been tested on Windows so far. You can use this example workflow:
+
+- Clone and install the latest Emscripten tools to ``c:\emsdk``.
+- Use ``C:\emsdk\emsdk.ps1 activate latest`` to enable the environment from powershell in the current shell.
+- The ``emcmake.bat`` utility adds the emscripten toolchain to the CMake command. It can also be added manually;
+  the location is listed inside the ``emcmake.bat`` file
+
+.. code-block::
+
+    # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+    C:\emsdk\emsdk.ps1 activate latest
+    emcmake.bat cmake -S . -B cmake-build-web -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+    cmake --build cmake-build-web
+
+Android Cross Compile from Windows
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+There are two separate paths you can choose when configuring for android.
+
+Use the ``CMAKE_ANDROID_*`` variables specified on the command line or in your
+own toolchain file as listed in the cmake-toolchains_ documentation.
+
+.. _cmake-toolchains: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-toolchains.7.html#cross-compiling-for-android-with-the-ndk
+
+Or use the toolchain and scripts provided by the Android SDK and make changes
+using the ``ANDROID_*`` variables listed there. Where ``<version>`` is whatever
+NDK version you have installed (tested with `28.1.13356709`) and ``<platform>``
+is for the Android sdk platform, (tested with ``android-29``).
+
+.. warning::
+
+    The Android SDK website explicitly states that they do not support using
+    the CMake built-in method, and recommends you stick with their toolchain
+    files.
+
+.. topic:: Using your own toolchain file as described in the CMake documentation
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+        cmake -S . -B cmake-build --toolchain my_toolchain.cmake
+        cmake --build cmake-build -t template_release
+
+    Doing the equivalent on just using the command line:
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+        cmake -S . -B cmake-build \
+            -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=Android \
+            -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_VERSION=<platform> \
+            -DCMAKE_ANDROID_ARCH_ABI=<arch> \
+            -DCMAKE_ANDROID_NDK=/path/to/android-ndk
+        cmake --build cmake-build
+
+.. topic:: Using the toolchain file from the Android SDK
+
+    This defaults to the minimum supported version and armv7-a:
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+        cmake -S . -B cmake-build --toolchain $ANDROID_HOME/ndk/<version>/build/cmake/android.toolchain.cmake
+        cmake --build cmake-build
+
+    Specifying the Android platform and ABI:
+
+    .. code-block::
+
+        # Assuming our current directory is the godot-cpp source root.
+        cmake -S . -B cmake-build --toolchain $ANDROID_HOME/ndk/<version>/build/cmake/android.toolchain.cmake \
+            -DANDROID_PLATFORM:STRING=android-29 \
+            -DANDROID_ABI:STRING=armeabi-v7a
+        cmake --build cmake-build
+
+
+Toolchains
+----------
+
+This section attempts to list the host and target combinations that have been
+tested.
+
+Linux Host
+~~~~~~~~~~
+
+macOS Host
+~~~~~~~~~~
+
+:System: Mac Mini
+:OS Name: Sequoia 15.0.1
+:Processor: Apple M2
+
+* AppleClang
+
+Windows Host
+~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+:OS Name: Windows 11
+:Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS Creator Edition
+
+
+* `Microsoft Visual Studio 17 2022 <https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/>`_
+* `LLVM <https://llvm.org/>`_
+* `LLVM-MinGW <https://github.com/mstorsjo/llvm-mingw/releases>`_
+
+    * aarch64-w64-mingw32
+    * armv7-w64-mingw32
+    * i686-w64-mingw32
+    * x86_64-w64-mingw32
+
+* `AndroidSDK <https://developer.android.com/studio/#command-tools>`_
+* `Emscripten <https://emscripten.org/>`_
+* `MinGW-W64-builds <https://github.com/niXman/mingw-builds-binaries/releases>`_
+* `Jetbrains-CLion <https://www.jetbrains.com/clion/>`_
+
+    Jetbrains built-in compiler is just the MingW64 above.
+
+* `MSYS2 <https://www.msys2.org/>`_
+    Necessary reading about MSYS2 `environments <https://www.msys2.org/docs/environments/>`_
+
+    * ucrt64
+    * clang64
+    * mingw32
+    * mingw64
+    * clangarm64

tutorials/scripting/cpp/build_system/index.rst

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+Build system
+============
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 1
+   :name: toc-godot-cpp-build-system
+
+   scons
+   cmake