# cmake > Cross-platform build automation system, that generates recipes for native build systems. > More information: . - Generate a build recipe in the current directory with `CMakeLists.txt` from a project directory: `cmake {{path/to/project_directory}}` - Generate a build recipe, with build type set to `Release` with CMake variable: `cmake {{path/to/project_directory}} -D {{CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release}}` - Use a generated recipe in a given directory to build artifacts: `cmake --build {{path/to/build_directory}}` - Install the build artifacts into `/usr/local/` and strip debugging symbols: `cmake --install {{path/to/build_directory}} --strip` - Install the build artifacts using the custom prefix for paths: `cmake --install {{path/to/build_directory}} --strip --prefix {{path/to/directory}}` - Run a custom build target: `cmake --build {{path/to/build_directory}} --target {{target_name}}`