The software distribution side of CMake is there and it serves many needs, so you can't really get a clear answer here, because only you know what you really ne

The software distribution side of CMake is there and it serves many needs, so you can't really get a clear answer here, because only you know what you really need. Package discovery for example can be done with the CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH[1] command line cache variable, which is a list of prefixes where find_*() commands will go looking for things. But if you are putting your own install prefix together, or are using a system prefix, then CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX[2] can also serve that purpose and it will also set the default install prefix for cmake --install. You can also control discovery on a per find_*() command basis using various environment and cache variables, all documented in their respective documentation. For example, see the numbered list in find_package's documentation[3]. Setting RPATH can be done at a project level using the CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH[4] variable. However, if you have both executables and libraries in a project, you might see how that may not be the most useful approach and instead you'd want to reach for CPack scripting (via CPACK_PRE_BUILD_SCRIPTS[5]) to setup RPATH separately for things going in /bin and /lib. Software distribution is messy and CMake provides tools to deal with things, but you have to know what's the most appropriate soltuion for your case. [1]: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH.html https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_PREFIX_PA... [2]: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX.html https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_P... [3]: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/find_package.html#config-mode-search-procedure https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/find_package.htm... [4]: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH.html https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_R... [5]: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/module/CPack.html#variable:CPACK_PRE_BUILD_SCRIPTS https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/module/CPack.html#variab...