What’s the process for implementing code coverage in a CMake project?

What are the detailed steps and best practices for implementing code coverage in a CMake project, including setting up the necessary compiler and linker flags, integrating with CTest, and generating comprehensive coverage reports?

Implementing code coverage in a CMake project involves several steps to ensure comprehensive coverage reports. Here's a detailed guide:

Step-by-Step Process Set Up Your Project: Ensure your project is set up with CMake and has a basic CMakeLists.txt file.

Add Compiler and Linker Flags: Add the necessary flags to enable code coverage. For GCC or Clang, use the -coverage flag.

Enable CTest: Include CTest support in your CMakeLists.txt file

Add Tests: Define your tests using add_test()

Generate Coverage Information: Rebuild your project and run your tests with CTest

Generate Reports: Use tools like lcov and genhtml to generate coverage reports

Best Practices Use Debug Builds: Ensure you are using a Debug build to get accurate coverage data.

Regular Testing: Integrate code coverage checks into your CI/CD pipeline to regularly monitor coverage.

Analyze Coverage Reports: Regularly review coverage reports to identify untested code paths and improve your test suite.