Strange issue with variables in a config-file cmake package

Question

We can use a cmake config file to import targets. For example given machinary including foobarConfig.cmake.in

set(FOOBAR_VERSION @VERSION@)

@PACKAG         


        

Answer 1

Oops. This is embarrassing. I'd moved the generation code into a shell script and forgot to escape the variables!

cat - >CMakeLists.txt <=$\n")

EOF

The question is still useful for providing source for the related question though.

To answer my own questions:

How can I find this problem? Avoid similar problems in the future? Create these files in a safe and canonical way?

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging
• Reduce the problem to a minimum reproducible example (preferably before posting on stack overflow)
• Avoid (or at least take extra care) generating code from shell scripts
• Reduce stress and get more sleep