CMake import std

A demonstration of import std in Visual Studios, VS Code, and from command line.

Setup

• Install and/or update Visual Studios to version 17.14.25 (help -> about should show Version 17.14.25 (January 2026) or newer)
• In the visual studios installer, modify visual studios 2022, under workloads -> desktop development with C++ -> optional -> ensure you have C++ CMake tools for Windows installed
• Install and/or update CMake to version 4.2.3 (from powershell, cmake --version should print 4.2.3 or newer*)
• Install and/or update Ninja to version 1.13.2 (from powershell, ninja --version should print 1.13.2 or newer)
• Run git clone https://github.com/TheNitesWhoSay/cmake_import_std.git

* If you have a newer (or different, but earlier versions may not work at all) version of CMake, make note of what version; then in the following URL: https://github.com/Kitware/CMake/blob/v4.2.3/Help/dev/experimental.rst replace 4.2.3 with your version, then in the link find CMAKE_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX_IMPORT_STD and copy the value, and in CMakeLists.txt replace d0edc3af-4c50-42ea-a356-e2862fe7a444 with your copied value.

Visual Studios

• Right click in the cmake_import_std folder and open with visual studios
• Wait for CMake generation to finish
• Hit f5, the program should compile, run and print Hello import std!

Visual Studios Code

• Open the cmake_import_std folder in visual studios code
• Hit the build button in the bottom left, select visual studios 2022 x86
• Hit the play button in the bottom left, project should build, run and print Hello import std! to the terminal

Powershell

• Open powershell to the cmake_import_std folder
• Run mkdir build, cd build, cmake ../, and finally cmake --build .
• Run ./Debug/import_std.exe, it should print Hello import std!

Results

Visual Studios

Visual Studios Code

Powershell