Assistance Required: Fix CMake Configuration for C++ Data Collection Application

**Project Summary:** I am developing an end-to-end demo application called **basic_data_collector**, which focuses on collecting data from various sources for analysis and processing. The initial component of this project is a **data collector** that connects to data providers, gathers real-time data, and stores it for future use. Collecting our own data is crucial to have a backup while the rest of the application is being developed. **Key Features:** - **Real-Time Data Collection:** Connects to data providers to collect real-time data. - **Data Storage:** Records and stores data for analysis and future processing. - **Modern C++ Development:** Utilizes C++17 standards and best practices. - **Multiple Libraries and Dependencies:** - **Boost:** For system and threading functionalities. - **OpenSSL:** For secure connections. - **nlohmann_json:** For JSON parsing. - **TBB (Threading Building Blocks):** For parallel programming. - **spdlog and fmt:** For logging and formatting. - **Zstandard (Zstd):** For data compression. **Development Environment:** - **Operating System:** Windows 10 using **Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)**. - **Development Tools:** Visual Studio Code with the WSL extension. - **Build System:** CMake. - **Compiler:** GCC via WSL. --- **Problem Statement:** I am encountering persistent issues with the **CMake configuration and compilation** of the data collector application, specifically related to integrating the **Zstandard (Zstd)** compression library. Despite having Zstd installed (`libzstd-dev` installed via `apt-get`), CMake fails to find and link the Zstd library correctly. The error message during CMake configuration is: ``` CMake Error at [login to view URL] (target_link_libraries): Target "market_data_collector" links to: Zstd::Zstd but the target was not found. Possible reasons include: * There is a typo in the target name. * A find_package call is missing for an IMPORTED target. * An ALIAS target is missing. ``` **Attempts to Resolve the Issue:** 1. **CMake Configuration Adjustments:** - Ensured `find_package(Zstd REQUIRED)` is present in the `[login to view URL]` file before the `target_link_libraries` command. - Tried different target names for Zstd in the `target_link_libraries` command, such as `Zstd::Zstd`, `ZSTD::ZSTD`, and `zstd::zstd`. - Removed manual path configurations for Zstd and relied on `find_package` to locate it automatically. - Added `Zstd_INCLUDE_DIRS` to `target_include_directories`. 2. **Environment Verification:** - Confirmed that `libzstd-dev` is installed in WSL. - Verified the presence of Zstd headers (`/usr/include/zstd.h`) and libraries (`/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/[login to view URL]`). - Ensured all development tools and dependencies are installed within the WSL environment. 3. **Build Process Cleanup:** - Deleted `[login to view URL]` and the `CMakeFiles/` directory to remove any cached configurations. - Removed and recreated the `build` directory to ensure a clean build environment. 4. **Diagnostic Efforts:** - Ran CMake with the `--debug-find` flag to obtain detailed information about how it searches for packages. - Analyzed the output logs to identify any anomalies or reasons why CMake cannot find the Zstd target. Despite these efforts, the error persists, and CMake cannot find the Zstd target to link against. This issue prevents the compilation and deployment of the data collector application, hindering progress on the project. --- **Assistance Needed:** I need help from an experienced developer to: 1. **Resolve the CMake Configuration Issue:** - **Diagnose the Root Cause:** - Identify why CMake is unable to find and link the Zstd library, despite it being installed and `find_package(Zstd REQUIRED)` being used. - Determine if there are any issues with the way Zstd is packaged or installed in the WSL environment. - **Correct the CMake Configuration:** - Provide guidance on properly configuring CMake to locate the Zstd library and link it to the `market_data_collector` executable. - Ensure that the target name used in `target_link_libraries` matches the one provided by the Zstd package. - **Handle Cross-Platform Compatibility:** - Adjust the CMake configuration to work correctly on both WSL (Unix-like) and Windows environments, considering differences in how libraries are found and linked. 2. **Verify and Correct the Build Process:** - **Review the `[login to view URL]` File:** - Examine the entire `[login to view URL]` for any errors, misconfigurations, or missing components that could affect the build process. - Check for proper inclusion of all dependencies and libraries. - **Ensure Proper Dependency Management:** - Provide best practices for managing dependencies, especially when dealing with multiple `[login to view URL]` files and complex projects. - Suggest ways to prevent similar issues in the future. 3. **Assist with Deployment Preparation:** - **Enable Immediate Data Collection:** - Help set up the application so it can be deployed as the first component of the end-to-end demo. - Ensure that the data collector can start collecting data as soon as possible, even if temporary workarounds are needed. - **Alternative Solutions:** - If resolving the Zstd issue proves time-consuming, suggest alternative methods for data compression or temporary solutions to bypass the problem. 4. **Provide General Guidance:** - **Best Practices:** - Offer advice on avoiding similar issues in the future, such as better dependency management or using containerization (e.g., Docker) to standardize the development environment. - Recommend tools or practices that can simplify build configurations, especially when using WSL and cross-platform development. --- **Additional Information:** - **Project Structure:** - The project uses multiple `[login to view URL]` files, one in the root directory and others in subdirectories like `src/`. - Variables and configurations might not be properly scoped or propagated between these files. - **Development Constraints:** - Time is of the essence, as collecting data early is important for the project's success. - Open to temporary solutions that allow data collection to begin while the Zstd issue is being resolved. - **Previous Error Analysis:** - The error message suggests that the target `Zstd::Zstd` is not found, possibly due to scope issues, incorrect target names, or missing package configurations. - The Zstd package may not provide the expected CMake targets, or there may be discrepancies in how it is packaged for WSL. --- **Goals:** - **Immediate:** - Resolve the CMake configuration issue to successfully build and deploy the data collector. - Begin collecting data as soon as possible. - **Long-Term:** - Establish a robust build process that accommodates all dependencies and is scalable for future development. - Implement best practices to prevent similar issues and streamline the development workflow. --- I would greatly appreciate any assistance in diagnosing and resolving this issue so that I can proceed with deploying the data collector and continue with the development of the project. Your expertise in CMake, dependency management, and cross-platform development would be invaluable. Pair Programming via Screen Sharing and Pre-recorded Walkthroughs. Confidentiality Notice: This project requires signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to protect proprietary information. Only freelancers who agree to these terms should apply. Code Access: To protect proprietary information, only the necessary [login to view URL] files and minimal source code required to reproduce the issue will be shared. An NDA must be signed before accessing any additional project files