Toolchain file template

This article explains how to use CMake Toolchain Files with the IAR tools.

Description

<toolchain-file>.cmake is an optional file that allows setting up CMake for cross-compiling scenarios.

Template

Before entering CMake, make sure your compiler is working properly as in the example below (for arm):

echo "main(){}" | /path/to/iccarm --output /tmp/test.o -

Template: IAR Build Tools for Arm (Cloud)

The template below comes pre-configured to work with cxarm-9.70.1 on Linux or Windows:

# Toolchain file for the IAR C/C++ Compiler for Arm
# Filename: cxarm.cmake
if (LINUX)
    set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   "/opt/iar/cxarm/arm/bin/iccarm")
    set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "/opt/iar/cxarm/arm/bin/iccarm")
    set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "/opt/iar/cxarm/arm/bin/iasmarm")
else()
    set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   "C:/iar/cxarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iccarm.exe")
    set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "C:/iar/cxarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iccarm.exe")
    set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "C:/iar/cxarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iasmarm.exe")
endif()

Template: IAR Build Tools for Arm

The template below comes pre-configured to work with bxarm-9.70.1 on Linux or Windows:

# Toolchain file for the IAR C/C++ Compiler for Arm
# Filename: bxarm.cmake
if (LINUX)
    set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   "/opt/iarsystems/bxarm/arm/bin/iccarm")
    set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "/opt/iarsystems/bxarm/arm/bin/iccarm")
    set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "/opt/iarsystems/bxarm/arm/bin/iasmarm")
else()
    set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   "C:/iar/bxarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iccarm.exe")
    set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "C:/iar/bxarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iccarm.exe")
    set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "C:/iar/bxarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iasmarm.exe")
endif()

Template: IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm

The template below comes pre-configured to work with ewarm-9.70.1 on Windows:

# Toolchain file for the IAR C/C++ Compiler for Arm
# Filename: ewarm.cmake
set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   "C:/iar/ewarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iccarm.exe")
set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "C:/iar/ewarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iccarm.exe")
set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER "C:/iar/ewarm-9.70.1/arm/bin/iasmarm.exe")

Building a Project with a CMake Toolchain File

Below you will find an exemplary sequence of commands on how to build a project using the cxarm.cmake toolchain file template:

# Configure the project
$ cmake -Bbuild -G"Ninja Multi-Config" --toolchain cxarm.cmake

# Build specifying configurations
$ cmake --build build --config Debug --verbose
$ cmake --build build --config Release --verbose

Summary

CMake toolchain files are a convenient way to file toolchain configurations. They become specially handy when dealing with a number of different toolchain versions, architectures and such. The proposed templates can be used as an starting point, checked into version control, and extended as needed.

Helpful Resources

• cmake-toolchains