Cannot compile wxWidgets with CMake

Question

I'm trying to compile wxWidgets with CMake. I cannot get it to work. There's so many error messages that I'll just link a pastebin with the logs here: https://pastebin.com/wLk4aSvy

The first error reported is

CMake Error: failed to create symbolic link 'C:/dev/libraries/wxWidgets-3.1.5/compiling/wx-config': operation not permitted

Luckily in the pastebin you can also see the commands and directories I used. As for details:

CMake Version: 3.20.1
wxWidgets Version: 3.1.5 (development release)
build system: Ninja
compiler: Clang++ (from LLVM package)
OS: Windows 8

Note that I used the development release instead of the stable release because the stable didn't contain any CMakeLists.txt AFAIK. Please help me get this working, thanks.

Answer 1

Why do you want to build wxWidgets itself with CMake thingy?

The library provides everything you need to build the library itself- all makefiles and solutions are there.

You can also use pre-built binaries - just need to make sure you get one for your compiler.

Let us know if you have issues compiling.

Since you are on Windows and using MSVC do the following:

Start MSVC.

Click "File -> Open...", then open the wx_vcN.sln from wxWidgets\build\msw folder (I don't know what MSVC version you are using but you can check the official documentation which N correspond to which MSVC version)

Go to "Build -> Batch Build...", click "Select ALL", then click "Build". Go drink some coffee.

In the MSVC, open wxWidgets\samples\minimal\minimal.dsw or minimal.sln. Select "Build -> Build Project", then execute the produced binary.

If you can see the window whose title says "Minimal wxWidgets" or something to that extent - you are done.