ENABLE_EXPORTS

Specify whether an executable exports symbols for loadable modules.

Normally an executable does not export any symbols because it is the final program. It is possible for an executable to export symbols to be used by loadable modules. When this property is set to true CMake will allow other targets to “link” to the executable with the target_link_libraries() command. On all platforms a target-level dependency on the executable is created for targets that link to it. Handling of the executable on the link lines of the loadable modules varies by platform:

• On Windows-based systems (including Cygwin) an “import library” is created along with the executable to list the exported symbols. Loadable modules link to the import library to get the symbols.
• On macOS, loadable modules link to the executable itself using the -bundle_loader flag.
• On AIX, a linker “import file” is created along with the executable to list the exported symbols for import when linking other targets. Loadable modules link to the import file to get the symbols.
• On other platforms, loadable modules are simply linked without referencing the executable since the dynamic loader will automatically bind symbols when the module is loaded.

This property is initialized by the value of the variable CMAKE_ENABLE_EXPORTS if it is set when a target is created.