How to install SDL_ttf 3.1.0 using CMake and Visual Studio 2022 for Desktop

• Install SDL 3.1.10 using this guide: How to install SDL 3.1.10 using CMake and Visual Studio 2022 for Desktop
• Install FreeType using this guide How to install FreeType 2.13.3 using CMake and Visual Studio 2022 for Desktop
• Type in the browser search field: sdl_ttf github
• You will find this page: https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL_ttf. I use this version in the guide: https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL_ttf/tree/5e651ee5054a95fdb91702ba1b398d751155febc
• Click on the "Code" and click on the "Download ZIP":

• Unzip it and open CMD inside of the unzipped folder:

• Type in CMD: cmake-gui
• CMake GUI will be opened:

• Copy a path to the unzipped folder and paste it to the "Where is the source code":

• Paste this path in the "Where to build the binaries" field and add the "/dist" to the path like this:

• Click on the "Configure" button:

• Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to create the "dist" folder:

• The "Visual Studio 17 2022" should be selected:

• Note. Such options are available:

• Click the "Finish" button:

• You see the following error message: "No freetype sources found". Click "OK":



• Type: ven in the "Search" field. Uncheck the "SDLTTF_VENDORED" flag:

• Click on the "Configure" button:

• Here is another error. Click "OK":

• Two path variables (FREETYPE_LIBRARY and FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS) should be set:

CMake Error at C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.31/Modules/FindPackageHandleStandardArgs.cmake:233 (message):
  Could NOT find Freetype (missing: FREETYPE_LIBRARY FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS)
Call Stack (most recent call first):
  C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.31/Modules/FindPackageHandleStandardArgs.cmake:603 (_FPHSA_FAILURE_MESSAGE)
  C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.31/Modules/FindFreetype.cmake:165 (find_package_handle_standard_args)
  CMakeLists.txt:297 (find_package)

• Type free in the "Search" field and check the "Advanced" flag:

• Copy and paste the same paths where you have installed FreeType:

• Type sdl3_dir in the "Search" field and set a path to the SDL3 "debug/cmake" folder where SDL3 was installed:

• Type types in the "Search" field:

• Type Debug for the CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES variable:

• Type prefix in the "Search" field:

• Set this path to where you want to install SDL_ttf, for example:

• Click buttons: "Configure", "Generate", and "Open Project":

Note. Configuration output

Selecting Windows SDK version 10.0.22621.0 to target Windows 10.0.19045.
Configuring SDL3_ttf 3.1.0
SDL3_ttf: Using system freetype library
Found Freetype: optimized;E:/libs/freetype-2.13.3-msvc/win/release/lib/freetype.lib;debug;E:/libs/freetype-2.13.3-msvc/win/debug/lib/freetyped.lib
Found OpenGL: opengl32
Configuring done (0.1s)
Generating done (0.1s)

• Visual Studio 2022 will be opened. Click "Build" > "Build Solution" or F7
• Wait for finishing of building
Note. Building output

Build started at 2:12 AM...
1>------ Build started: Project: ZERO_CHECK, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
1>1>Checking Build System
2>------ Build started: Project: SDL3_ttf-shared, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
2>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
2>SDL_hashtable.c
2>SDL_gpu_textengine.c
2>SDL_renderer_textengine.c
2>SDL_surface_textengine.c
2>SDL_ttf.c
2>Generating Code...
2>   Creating library E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/dist/Debug/SDL3_ttf.lib and object E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/dist/Debug/SDL3_ttf.exp
2>SDL3_ttf-shared.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Debug\SDL3_ttf.dll
3>------ Build started: Project: testgputext, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
4>------ Build started: Project: testapp, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
5>------ Build started: Project: showfont, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
6>------ Build started: Project: glfont, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
3>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
3>testgputext.c
4>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
5>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
6>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
4>testapp.c
5>showfont.c
6>glfont.c
3>testgputext.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Debug\testgputext.exe
5>editbox.c
5>Generating Code...
4>testapp.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Debug\testapp.exe
5>showfont.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Debug\showfont.exe
6>glfont.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Debug\glfont.exe
7>------ Build started: Project: ALL_BUILD, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
7>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
8>------ Skipped Build: Project: PACKAGE, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
8>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration 
9>------ Skipped Build: Project: INSTALL, Configuration: Debug x64 ------
9>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration 
========== Build: 7 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 2 skipped ==========
========== Build completed at 2:13 AM and took 10.268 seconds ==========

• Open CMD inside of the SDL_ttf source folder
• Type the installation command in CMD:

cmake --install dist

• The SDL_ttf files will be copied to the installation folder
Note. Installation output

E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main>cmake --install dist
-- Install configuration: "Debug"
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/lib/SDL3_ttf.lib
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/bin/SDL3_ttf.dll
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/include/SDL3_ttf/SDL_textengine.h
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/include/SDL3_ttf/SDL_ttf.h
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/bin/SDL3_ttf.pdb
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/cmake/SDL3_ttfConfig.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/cmake/SDL3_ttfConfigVersion.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/cmake/SDL3_ttf-shared-targets.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/cmake/SDL3_ttf-shared-targets-debug.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/lib/pkgconfig/sdl3-ttf.pc
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/debug/share/licenses/SDL3_ttf/LICENSE.txt

• Add the following path to the Windows PATH variable (change to your path): E:\libs\sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc\win\debug\bin
• Do not close CMake GUI and VS to build and install the "Release" version

Installation of the "Release" version

• Change the "CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX" value to "release":

• Type types in the "Search" field and change "Debug" to "Release":

• Type sdl3_dir in the "Search" field and change "SDL3_DIR" from "debug" to "release":

• Click on the "Configure and "Generate" buttons:

Note. Configuration output

Selecting Windows SDK version 10.0.22621.0 to target Windows 10.0.19045.
Configuring SDL3_ttf 3.1.0
SDL3_ttf: Using system freetype library
Configuring done (0.2s)
Generating done (0.1s)

• Switch to the VS window using Alt+Tab or by click on the VS in the task bar
• VS asks you to reload:

• Note. You see that Debug was changed to Release in the tool bar:

• Click "Build" > "Build Solution" or F7:

• Wait for finishing of building
Note. Building output

Build started at 2:41 AM...
1>------ Build started: Project: ZERO_CHECK, Configuration: Release x64 ------
1>1>Checking Build System
2>------ Build started: Project: SDL3_ttf-shared, Configuration: Release x64 ------
2>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
2>SDL_hashtable.c
2>SDL_gpu_textengine.c
2>SDL_renderer_textengine.c
2>SDL_surface_textengine.c
2>SDL_ttf.c
2>Generating Code...
2>   Creating library E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/dist/Release/SDL3_ttf.lib and object E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/dist/Release/SDL3_ttf.exp
2>SDL3_ttf-shared.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Release\SDL3_ttf.dll
3>------ Build started: Project: testgputext, Configuration: Release x64 ------
4>------ Build started: Project: testapp, Configuration: Release x64 ------
5>------ Build started: Project: showfont, Configuration: Release x64 ------
6>------ Build started: Project: glfont, Configuration: Release x64 ------
3>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
3>testgputext.c
4>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
5>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
6>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
4>testapp.c
5>showfont.c
6>glfont.c
5>editbox.c
5>Generating Code...
4>testapp.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Release\testapp.exe
3>testgputext.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Release\testgputext.exe
6>glfont.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Release\glfont.exe
5>showfont.vcxproj -> E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main\dist\Release\showfont.exe
7>------ Build started: Project: ALL_BUILD, Configuration: Release x64 ------
7>Building Custom Rule E:/libs/SDL_ttf-main/CMakeLists.txt
8>------ Skipped Build: Project: PACKAGE, Configuration: Release x64 ------
8>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration 
9>------ Skipped Build: Project: INSTALL, Configuration: Release x64 ------
9>Project not selected to build for this solution configuration 
========== Build: 7 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 2 skipped ==========
========== Build completed at 2:41 AM and took 12.262 seconds ==========

• Open CMD inside of the SDL_ttf source folder
• Type the installation command in CMD:

cmake --install dist

• The SDL_ttf files will be copied to the installation folder
Note. Installation output

E:\libs\SDL_ttf-main>cmake --install dist
-- Install configuration: "Release"
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/lib/SDL3_ttf.lib
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/bin/SDL3_ttf.dll
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/include/SDL3_ttf/SDL_textengine.h
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/include/SDL3_ttf/SDL_ttf.h
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/cmake/SDL3_ttfConfig.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/cmake/SDL3_ttfConfigVersion.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/cmake/SDL3_ttf-shared-targets.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/cmake/SDL3_ttf-shared-targets-release.cmake
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/lib/pkgconfig/sdl3-ttf.pc
-- Installing: E:/libs/sdl3_ttf-3.1.0-msvc/win/release/share/licenses/SDL3_ttf/LICENSE.txt

• Next guide: Setting up SDL_ttf 3.1.0 in Visual Studio 2022 using CMake