add CMake build system

.gitignore

@@ -40,12 +40,20 @@
 # debug information files
 *.dwo
 
-
 # generated files
 .vscode/
 .vs/
+
+build/
 bin/
 bin-int/
+
+**/premake5.lua
+premake5.lua
+
+**/CMakeLists.txt
+CMakeLists.txt
+
 scripts/__pycache__/
 scripts/linux/__pycache__/
 scripts/windows/__pycache__/
@@ -54,8 +62,9 @@ scripts/windows/__pycache__/
 *.vcxproj
 *.vcxproj.filters
 *.vcxproj.user
-vendor/glew/
 Makefile
+
+vendor/glew/
 vendor/premake/
 vendor/premake/*
 vendor/premake/LICENSE.txt

README.md

@@ -4,18 +4,19 @@ A simple, cross-platform C++ application template with a graphical user interfac
 
 ## 1. Overview
 
-`application_template` provides a minimal but fully functional starting point for GUI-based C++ applications. It uses:
+`application_template` provides a functional starting point for GUI-based C++ applications. It uses:
 
 * **ImGui** for immediate-mode GUI widgets
+* **ImPlot**    <!-- TODO: add explanation -->
 * **GLFW** for window and input management
 * **OpenGL** (configurable via `GL_renderer`)
-* **Premake5** for build configuration
 
 The template handles platform detection, dependency setup, and IDE integration out of the box.
 
 ## 2. Features
 
-* Cross-platform support (Linux; Windows support coming soon)
+* Cross-platform support (Linux & Windows)
+* Dual build system support: CMake and Premake5
 * Automatic and manual build workflows
 * IDE configuration for VSCode (default) and others
 * Customizable dashboard module for runtime statistics or visuals
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ The template handles platform detection, dependency setup, and IDE integration o
 
 ## 4. Installation & Setup
 
-### Run Setup Script
+### Clone Template
 
 Use this template to create your own project, and clone it.
 
@@ -38,6 +39,8 @@ git clone <your_project>
 cd <your_project>
 ```
 
+### Run Setup Script
+
 It is recommended to change the `name` of your project in the `config/app_settings.yml`. This can ofcourse be change at any time, as long as the setup script is run afterwards
 
 Execute the Python setup script to verify and install missing dependencies, configure the environment, and generate IDE/project files:
@@ -47,8 +50,37 @@ python3 setup.py
 ```
 
 * The script detects your OS (Linux/Windows) and ensures all libraries and tools are available.
+* Select your build system when prompted (CMake or Premake5)
 * Select your IDE when prompted (currently VSCode is supported).
 
+
+### Build System Selection
+
+The template supports two build systems:
+
+#### CMake (Recommended)
+- Modern, widely adopted build system
+- Better IDE integration
+- More configuration options
+- Default selection
+
+#### Premake5
+- Simple Lua-based configuration
+- Fast project generation
+- Cross-platform project files
+
+**Command-line options for build system selection:**
+```bash
+# Use CMake (skip selection prompt)
+python3 setup.py -k
+
+# Use Premake5 (skip selection prompt)  
+python3 setup.py -p
+
+# Interactive selection (default)
+python3 setup.py
+```
+
 ## 5. Building the Application
 
 ### Automatic Build (VSCode)
@@ -57,35 +89,71 @@ If you selected **VSCode** during setup:
 
 ###### While in the VSCode editor:
 * Press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>B</kbd> to build the application.
-* Press <kbd>F5</kbd> to launch the application in the debugger after building.
+* Press <kbd>F5</kbd> to build and launch the application in the debugger.
 
-### Manual Build
+### Manual Build - CMake
 
 From the project root directory:
 
 ```bash
-cd application_template
-.vscode/build.sh      # Generate gmake2 files and run premake
-make -j               # Compile with parallel jobs
+# Generate build files and build
+cmake -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
+cmake --build build --parallel 16
+
+# Or create build directory manually
+mkdir build && cd build
+cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
+make -j
 ```
 
-If you modify `premake5.lua`, regenerate build files:
+### Manual Build - Premake5
+
+From the project root directory:
 
 ```bash
-make clean && vendor/premake/premake5 gmake2
-make -j
+# Generate build files (Linux)
+./vendor/premake/premake5 gmake2
+
+# Generate build files (Windows)  
+vendor\premake\premake5.exe gmake2
+
+# Build the project
+gmake -j
+
+# Clean build
+gmake clean
 ```
 
-**Optional Bash Aliases** (add to your `~/.bashrc`):
+## 6. Common Workflows
+
+### Development Setup
+```bash
+# CMake with VSCode for debugging
+python3 setup.py -k -V -C Debug
+
+# Premake5 with VSCode
+python3 setup.py -p -V -C Debug
+```
 
+### Release Build
 ```bash
-alias app_build='cd ~/workspace/application_template && .vscode/build.sh && make -j'
-alias app_run='app_build && bin/Debug-linux-x86_64/application_template/application_template'
+# Generate release build files without building
+python3 setup.py -k -C Release -n
+
+# Or with Premake5
+python3 setup.py -p -C Release -n
 ```
 
-Replace `~/workspace/application_template` with your project path.
+### Quick Setup
+```bash
+# CMake with VSCode, generate files only
+python3 setup.py -k -V -n
+
+# Full clean setup (removes previous builds)
+python3 setup.py -c -k -V
+```
 
-## 6. Window Manager Integration
+## 7. Window Manager Integration
 
 If you use a tiling window manager (e.g., `Krohnkite`), ImGui may spawn floating glfw windows with a prefix. Add the following rule to allow floating windows:
 
@@ -95,15 +163,15 @@ ISM -
 
 This matches ImGui popup windows by their title prefix.
 
-## 7. Usage
+## 8. Usage
 
-Run the compiled binary directly or via IDE. The main window displays ImGui controls—customize widgets in `application.cpp`.
+'F5' Runs the compiled binary directly or via IDE. 
+The main window displays ImGui controls—customize widgets in `application.cpp`.
 
 ## Dashboard Module
 
 The dashboard files (`dashboard.h` / `dashboard.cpp`) are entry points for adding custom UI panels or runtime metrics. Extend this module by implementing:
 
-
 ### Lifecycle Methods
 
 1. `dashboard::init()`
@@ -139,7 +207,6 @@ The dashboard files (`dashboard.h` / `dashboard.cpp`) are entry points for addin
    * Clean up resources allocated in `initialize()` (free textures, buffers).
    * Called on application exit.
 
-
 ### Long startup process (optional)
 
 The template supports a simple, opt-in flow for long initialization/startup work. When enabled, the application will run the dashboard initialization in a separate thread and display a minimal "Initializing..." screen while the work completes.
@@ -181,39 +248,7 @@ The UI shown while `dashboard::init()` runs is intentionally minimal and scales
 ```cpp
 void dashboard::draw_init_UI(f32 delta_time) {
 
-    ImGuiViewport* viewport = ImGui::GetMainViewport();
-    ImGui::SetNextWindowPos(viewport->Pos);
-    ImGui::SetNextWindowSize(viewport->Size);
-
-    ImGuiWindowFlags window_flags = ImGuiWindowFlags_NoTitleBar | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoMove | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoResize |
-        ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollbar | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoCollapse | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoBringToFrontOnFocus | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoNavFocus;
-
-    ImGui::Begin("Initialization", nullptr, window_flags);
-    {
-
-        const char* text = "Initializing...";
-        const float target_font_size = 50.0f;
-        ImVec2 base_text_size = ImGui::CalcTextSize(text);                                      // Calculate base text size at default font scale
-        float scale = (base_text_size.y > 0) ? target_font_size / base_text_size.y : 1.0f;      // Calculate required scale to reach target font size
-        ImVec2 available = ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail() * 0.9f;                               // Get available space with 10% margin
-        ImVec2 scaled_size = base_text_size * scale;                                            // Calculate scaled text size
-
-        if (scaled_size.x > available.x || scaled_size.y > available.y) {                       // Adjust scale if needed to fit available space
-            float width_ratio = available.x / scaled_size.x;
-            float height_ratio = available.y / scaled_size.y;
-            scale *= (width_ratio < height_ratio) ? width_ratio : height_ratio;
-        }
-
-        // Set font scale and calculate final position
-        ImGui::SetWindowFontScale(scale);
-        ImVec2 text_size = ImGui::CalcTextSize(text);
-        ImVec2 position = (ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail() - text_size) * 0.5f;
-
-        ImGui::SetCursorPos(position);
-        ImGui::TextUnformatted(text);
-        ImGui::SetWindowFontScale(1.0f);
-    }
-    ImGui::End();
+    // Overwrite with own UI or leave default
 }
 ```
 
@@ -265,4 +300,4 @@ Contributions welcome! Please fork the repo and submit pull requests against `ma
 
 ## License
 
-This project is licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE).
+This project is licensed under the [Apache 2.0 License](LICENSE).