How to install ImGUI 1.91.8 using CMake and Visual Studio 2022 for Desktop

• Install Visual Studio 2022 Community and CMake using this guide: Installation of Visual Studio 2022 Community with CMake support
• Create an empty folder, for example, in my case: "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug" and four empty folders inside it:
• imgui-build
• include
• lib
• src
• src_to_build
• For example:

• Type imgui github in the browser search field, press "Enter", and click on the first link:

• Scroll down and click on the "Releases" link on the on the right panel and click on the latest release:

• Scroll down and click on the "Source code (zip)"

• Move the downloaded "imgui-1.91.8.zip" archive somewhere, for example, in the "E:\libs" folder, and "Extract Here":

• Copy the following files:
• imgui.cpp
• imgui_draw.cpp
• imgui_tables.cpp
• imgui_widgets.cpp
• Paste the copied files to the "src_to_build" folder, in my case to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.1-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\src_to_build" folder:

• Open the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8" folder and copy the following files:
• imconfig.h
• imgui.h
• imgui_internal.h
• imstb_rectpack.h
• imstb_textedit.h
• imstb_truetype.h
• Paste the copied files to the "include" folder, in my case to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\include" folder
• Open the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8\backends" folder and copy the following files:
• imgui_impl_opengl3.h
• imgui_impl_opengl3_loader.h
• imgui_impl_sdl3.h
• Paste the copied files to the "include" folder, in my case to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\include" folder
• The include folder should look like this:

• Open the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8\backends" folder and copy the following files:
• imgui_impl_opengl3.cpp
• imgui_impl_sdl3.cpp
• Paste the copied files to the "src" folder, in my case, to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\src" folder:

• Create the "CMakeLists.txt" file inside of the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\imgui-build" folder with the following content:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)

project(imgui_static)

# Set where the ImGui files are stored
set(IMGUI_PATH_INCLUDE "E:/libs/imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc/win/debug/include")
set(IMGUI_PATH_SRC "E:/libs/imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc/win/debug/src_to_build")

# Compile as static library 
file(GLOB IMGUI_SOURCES ${IMGUI_PATH_SRC}/*.cpp)
add_library("ImGui" STATIC ${IMGUI_SOURCES})
target_include_directories("ImGui" PUBLIC ${IMGUI_PATH_INCLUDE})

• Open CMD inside of the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\imgui-build" folder
• Copy and paste the following command to CMD to configure:

cmake -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -S . -B dist

• Double click on the "dist\imgui_static.sln" file
• VS 2022 will be opened
• Press F7 to build
• Note. Build output:

Build started at 11:07 PM...
1>------ Build started: Project: ZERO_CHECK, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
1>1>Checking Build System
2>------ Build started: Project: ImGui, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
2>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc/win/debug/imgui-build/CMakeLists.txt
2>imgui.cpp
2>imgui_draw.cpp
2>imgui_tables.cpp
2>imgui_widgets.cpp
2>Generating Code...
2>ImGui.vcxproj -> E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\imgui-build\dist\Debug\ImGui.lib
3>------ Skipped Build: Project: ALL_BUILD, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
3>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration 
========== Build: 2 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 1 skipped ==========
========== Build completed at 11:08 PM and took 14.746 seconds ==========

• The "ImGui.lib" file was generated here: "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\imgui-build\dist\Debug\ImGui.lib"
• Copy the "ImGui.lib" file and paste it to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\lib" folder:

Building to Release

• Click on the "Debug" in VS:

• Select "Release":

• Press F7 to build
• Note. Build output:

Build started at 11:22 PM...
1>------ Build started: Project: ZERO_CHECK, Configuration: Release x64 ------
1>1>Checking Build System
2>------ Build started: Project: ImGui, Configuration: Release x64 ------
2>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc/win/debug/imgui-build/CMakeLists.txt
2>imgui.cpp
2>imgui_draw.cpp
2>imgui_tables.cpp
2>imgui_widgets.cpp
2>Generating Code...
2>ImGui.vcxproj -> E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\imgui-build\dist\Release\ImGui.lib
3>------ Skipped Build: Project: ALL_BUILD, Configuration: Release x64 ------
3>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration 
========== Build: 2 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 1 skipped ==========
========== Build completed at 11:22 PM and took 18.096 seconds ==========

• The "ImGui.lib" file was generated here: "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\debug\imgui-build\dist\Release\ImGui.lib"
• Copy the "ImGui.lib" file and paste it to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\release\lib" folder:

• Copy "include" and "src" folders:

• Paste the copied folders to the "E:\libs\imgui-1.91.8-sdl3-opengl3-msvc\win\release" folder:

• Delete the "imgui-build" and "src_to_build" folders in the "debug" folder:

• Next guide: Setting up ImGUI 1.91.8 in Visual Studio 2022 using CMake