CMAKE_VERSION.rst
CMAKE_VERSION
-------------
The CMake version string as three non-negative integer components
separated by ``.`` and possibly followed by ``-`` and other information.
The first two components represent the feature level and the third
component represents either a bug-fix level or development date.
Release versions and release candidate versions of CMake use the format::
<major>.<minor>.<patch>[-rc<n>]
where the ``<patch>`` component is less than ``20000000``. Development
versions of CMake use the format::
<major>.<minor>.<date>[-<id>]
where the ``<date>`` component is of format ``CCYYMMDD`` and ``<id>``
may contain arbitrary text. This represents development as of a
particular date following the ``<major>.<minor>`` feature release.
Individual component values are also available in variables:
* :variable:`CMAKE_MAJOR_VERSION`
* :variable:`CMAKE_MINOR_VERSION`
* :variable:`CMAKE_PATCH_VERSION`
* :variable:`CMAKE_TWEAK_VERSION`
Use the :command:`if` command ``VERSION_LESS``, ``VERSION_GREATER``,
``VERSION_EQUAL``, ``VERSION_LESS_EQUAL``, or ``VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL``
operators to compare version string values against ``CMAKE_VERSION`` using a
component-wise test. Version component values may be 10 or larger so do not
attempt to compare version strings as floating-point numbers.
.. note::
CMake versions 2.8.2 through 2.8.12 used three components for the
feature level. Release versions represented the bug-fix level in a
fourth component, i.e. ``<major>.<minor>.<patch>[.<tweak>][-rc<n>]``.
Development versions represented the development date in the fourth
component, i.e. ``<major>.<minor>.<patch>.<date>[-<id>]``.
CMake versions prior to 2.8.2 used three components for the
feature level and had no bug-fix component. Release versions
used an even-valued second component, i.e.
``<major>.<even-minor>.<patch>[-rc<n>]``. Development versions
used an odd-valued second component with the development date as
the third component, i.e. ``<major>.<odd-minor>.<date>``.
The ``CMAKE_VERSION`` variable is defined by CMake 2.6.3 and higher.
Earlier versions defined only the individual component variables.