CMake modules for Skyrim

Official CMake modules for Skyrim Scripting tutorials

• CMake modules for Skyrim
  • Features
  • Why?
  • Getting Started
  • Installation
    • vcpkg.json
    • vcpkg-configuration.json
    • vcpkg Support
      • CMakePresets.json
  • Usage
    • Plugin Output Locations
  • CMake Learning Resources

Features

• add_skse_plugin automatically sets up precompile headers (includes its own PCH.h)
• add_skse_plugin can automatically deploy to your MO2/Vortex mods folder
• add_skse_plugin can automatically deploy to your Skyrim Data/ folder
• Support for Papyrus scripts
• Support for .esp/.bsa files or other assets
• Support for packaging mod for release

Why?

I actually enjoy CMake.

But, when your goal is: Create a fun Skyrim SKSE plugin
then you should not also be forced to learn this wicked language.

The SkyrimScripting.CMake module provides CMake functions which make it easy to ignore CMake and just write Skyrim plugins!

Getting Started

The easiest way to get started is by using this template:

https://github.com/SkyrimScripting/SKSE_Template_StarterKit

1. Set an environment variable to configure where generated SKSE plugins are output:

CMAKE_SKYRIM_MODS_FOLDER: set to your MO2 or Vortex mods folder
or CMAKE_SKYRIM_FOLDER: plugin will output to your Data\ directory

2. Clone that repository (or download as a .zip file)
3. Open the folder in any C++ editor program (e.g. CLion, Visual Studio, VS Code)
4. Choose other the Debug or Release build, if prompted (CLion/VS Code)
5. Build the project!

SKSE plugin automatically copied into your mods or Data folder, per config above

6. Enable the mod (if using a mod manager) and run Skyrim 🐉

Installation

In your own projects, add SkyrimScripting.CMake by adding the following 2x files to the root of your project:

vcpkg.json

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{
    "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/vcpkg/master/scripts/vcpkg.schema.json",
    "name": "my-project",
    "version-string": "0.0.1",
    "dependencies": [
        "commonlibsse-ng",
        { "name": "skyrimscripting-cmake", "version>=": "0.0.1" }
    ]
}

Please always specify an explicit version<= (view content for example).
Development of SkyrimScripting.CMake is currently active and the interface/functions will change.

vcpkg-configuration.json

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{
  "default-registry": {
    "kind": "git",
    "repository": "https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.git",
    "baseline": "cc288af760054fa489574bd8e22d05aa8fa01e5c"
  },
  "registries": [
    {
      "kind": "git",
      "repository": "https://gitlab.com/colorglass/vcpkg-colorglass",
      "baseline": "ef8d43afe4d26e842de3d034bff1081cb7990f07",
      "packages": [
        "commonlibsse-ng"
      ]
    },
    {
      "kind": "git",
      "repository": "https://github.com/SkyrimScripting/vcpkg.git",
      "baseline": "< INSERT THE LATEST COMMIT SHA >",
      "packages": [
        "skyrimscripting-cmake"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

vcpkg Support

And make sure that your project is configured to use vcpkg!

e.g. via setting your CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE to $ENV{VCPKG_ROOT}/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake.

If you want, you can add this CMakePresets.json into the root of your project (if you don't already have your own preferred CMakePresets.json)

CMakePresets.json

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{
    "version": 3,
    "configurePresets": [
        {
            "name": "base",
            "hidden": true,
            "generator": "Ninja",
            "binaryDir": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}",
            "installDir": "${sourceDir}/install/${presetName}",
            "architecture": { "value": "x64", "strategy": "external" },
            "cacheVariables": {
                "CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER": "cl.exe",
                "CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS": "/permissive- /Zc:preprocessor /EHsc /MP /W4 -DWIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN -DNOMINMAX -DUNICODE -D_UNICODE",
                "CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": "$env{VCPKG_ROOT}/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake",
                "VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET": "x64-windows-static-md",
                "VCPKG_OVERLAY_TRIPLETS": "${sourceDir}/cmake",
                "CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY": "MultiThreaded$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>DLL",
                "CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS": "ON"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "debug",
            "inherits": ["base"],
            "displayName": "Debug",
            "cacheVariables": { "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Debug" }
        },
        {
            "name": "release",
            "inherits": ["base"],
            "displayName": "Release",
            "cacheVariables": { "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Release" }
        }
    ]
}

Usage

Example CMakeLists.txt:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.21)

project(MyCoolSksePlugin VERSION 0.0.1 LANGUAGES CXX)

find_package(SkyrimScripting.CMake CONFIG REQUIRED)

add_skse_plugin(${PROJECT_NAME} SOURCES plugin.cpp)

That's it.

Plugin Output Locations

If you configured either CMAKE_SKYRIM_MODS_FOLDER or CMAKE_SKYRIM_FOLDER as described above, then just build the project and your SKSE plugin will go into your MO2/Vortex mods folder (or directly into your Data/ folder).

Alternatively, you can specify these locations manually:

# Provide a path to your mods folder
add_skse_plugin(
    ${PROJECT_NAME}
    MODS_FOLDER "C:/path/to/my/mods/folder"
    SOURCES plugin.cpp
)

# Provide a path to your Data/ folder
add_skse_plugin(
    ${PROJECT_NAME}
    DATA_FOLDER "C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim Special Edition/Data"
    SOURCES plugin.cpp
)

That's all I'm going to share for now.

The usage will change over time, so let's keep it simple for now.

CMake Learning Resources

There will be a Skyrim Scripting video covering CMake in detail in the future.

• cmake-language(7)
• cmake-commands(7)