---
id: colcon-cmake
version: "0.2.30"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# colcon-cmake — Extension for colcon to support CMake packages.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 199.3K/mo

## What it is and what it does

colcon-cmake extends the colcon build orchestration framework to recognize and build CMake-based projects. colcon itself is a meta-build tool that manages multi-package workspaces; this plugin teaches it how to invoke CMake on individual packages, run their tests, and collect results. It works alongside colcon's core and test infrastructure to integrate CMake projects into a unified build pipeline.

The package is classified as Alpha and is designed for developers working with multi-package CMake codebases—common in robotics (ROS 2) and large C/C++ projects. It handles cross-platform builds on macOS, Windows, and POSIX systems, and depends on colcon-core, colcon-library-path, colcon-test-result, and packaging.

Use it for:

- Build multiple interdependent CMake packages in a single colcon workspace command
- Integrate CMake projects into a ROS 2 workspace alongside other package types
- Run tests across CMake packages and aggregate results via colcon's test infrastructure
- Manage library paths and dependencies for CMake builds in a multi-package environment

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

colcon-cmake is a plugin for colcon that adds support for building and testing CMake-based projects as part of a colcon workspace.

Yes, if you are using colcon and have CMake-based packages in your workspace. The plugin is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and installs with low friction. It is essential for colcon users building CMake projects; without it, colcon cannot recognize or build CMake packages. Not relevant if you are not using colcon.

## Install

pip install colcon-cmake
uv add colcon-cmake
poetry add colcon-cmake

## Installing colcon-cmake

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Active maintenance with a recent release (59 days ago) and ongoing repository activity. Depends on colcon-core and three lightweight colcon extensions.

License in practice: Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions; you must retain license notices but are free to modify and distribute.

Quickstart:

pip install colcon-cmake

colcon build --packages-select my_cmake_package

Requires colcon-core to be installed; intended for use within a colcon workspace, not as a standalone tool.

Verify before relying:

- Whether colcon-cmake handles modern CMake versions (3.x+) and any version constraints it enforces
- Whether this plugin works with non-standard CMake configurations or custom toolchains

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 199.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

colcon cmake plugin, cmake build integration colcon, multi-package cmake build tool, colcon workspace cmake support, cmake project orchestration, cmake, colcon-plugin, build-orchestration

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/colcon-cmake) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/colcon-cmake/)