CMake is an open-source cross-platform build system that helps developers manage the build process of software projects. It uses a simple, declarative syntax to define the project's structure, dependencies, and build targets, and generates platform-specific build files (such as Makefiles or Visual Studio project files) that can be used to build the project on various platforms and with different compilers.

CMake allows developers to create and configure projects for a variety of build systems, including Make, Ninja, and Visual Studio, as well as various IDEs such as CLion, Qt Creator, and Visual Studio Code. It also supports a wide range of programming languages, including C, C++, Java, Python, and Fortran.

One of the main benefits of using CMake is its ability to handle complex projects with multiple source files and dependencies. It provides a modular structure that makes it easy to add or remove files, libraries, and modules, and to define build configurations for different platforms and compilers.

CMake is widely used in the open-source community, and is the build system of choice for many large-scale projects such as KDE, LLVM, and OpenCV. Its popularity is due to its flexibility, ease of use, and its ability to generate build files that work on multiple platforms and with multiple compilers.

Key Features:

• Cross-platform: CMake supports building on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Language independent: CMake can be used with a variety of programming languages, including C++, Python, and Java.
• Configuration management: CMake allows developers to specify build configurations and custom build options.
• Modular design: CMake uses a modular design that allows developers to build complex projects with multiple components.
• Integration with other build tools: CMake can be integrated with other build tools, such as make and ninja.
• Automated dependency resolution: CMake can automatically detect and resolve dependencies between different components of a project.
• Extensibility: CMake can be extended with custom plugins and modules to support specific build requirements.