clang-tidy cmake exclude file from check

Question

I have a dependency as source in my project that I have no control over. I\'m using cmake\'s clang-tidy integration to analyze my code, and this dependency is firing A LOT o

Answer 1

In case you have a header only library I use SYSTEM (should also be possible for OBJECT libraries)

add_library(
  header_only_library_no_static_code_analysis 
  INTERFACE
)

target_include_directories(
  header_only_library_no_static_code_analysis 
  SYSTEM # Adds -isystem instead of -I and this tells clang-tidy not to analyze these includes
  INTERFACE
    path/to
)

I couldn't use this approach for a long time due to following bug

https://bugs.launchpad.net/gcc-arm-embedded/+bug/1698539

But with GNU Arm Embedded Toolchain Version 9-2020-q2-update it seems resolved :)

Answer 2

If some property - like CXX_CLANG_TIDY - is only available on target level, you have to move the files you want to have different settings for into a separate new target itself.

This can be done by using OBJECT libraries.

In your case something like:

add_library(
    target_no_static_code_analysis
    OBJECT
        path/to/file.cpp
        path/to/file.h
)

# NOTE: Resetting only needed if you have a global CMAKE_CXX_CLANG_TIDY
set_target_properties(
    target_no_static_code_analysis
    PROPERTIES
         CXX_CLANG_TIDY ""
)

...
add_library(target ${other_srcs} $<TARGET_OBJECTS:target_no_static_code_analysis>)

References

• CMake/Tutorials/Object Library