Add options to launch the compiler through tools like ccache or distcc

Create a <LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER target property (initialized by a
CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER variable) to specify a compiler launcher
tool.  This will supersede the CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_ARG1 approach to
using such tools.  The old approach set CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER to the
launcher tool while the new approach leaves this variable set to the
actual compiler.

Implement this property for Makefile and Ninja generators.  It cannot be
implemented for VS or Xcode generators as the IDE build tools offer no
such hooks.

5 files changed, 29 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/Help/manual/cmake-properties.7.rst b/Help/manual/cmake-properties.7.rst
index 615254e..9a60a10 100644
--- a/Help/manual/cmake-properties.7.rst
+++ b/Help/manual/cmake-properties.7.rst
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ Properties on Targets
    /prop_tgt/JOB_POOL_COMPILE
    /prop_tgt/JOB_POOL_LINK
    /prop_tgt/LABELS
+   /prop_tgt/LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER
    /prop_tgt/LANG_INCLUDE_WHAT_YOU_USE
    /prop_tgt/LANG_VISIBILITY_PRESET
    /prop_tgt/LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY_CONFIG
diff --git a/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst b/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst
index bd02f8b..2b92006 100644
--- a/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst
+++ b/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ Variables that Control the Build
    /variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_NAME_DIR
    /variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH
    /variable/CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH
+   /variable/CMAKE_LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER
    /variable/CMAKE_LANG_INCLUDE_WHAT_YOU_USE
    /variable/CMAKE_LANG_VISIBILITY_PRESET
    /variable/CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY
diff --git a/Help/prop_tgt/LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER.rst b/Help/prop_tgt/LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fe0b31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/prop_tgt/LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER
+------------------------
+
+This property is implemented only when ``<LANG>`` is ``C`` or ``CXX``.
+
+Specify a :ref:`;-list <CMake Language Lists>` containing a command line
+for a compiler launching tool. The :ref:`Makefile Generators` and the
+:generator:`Ninja` generator will run this tool and pass the compiler and
+its arguments to the tool. Some example tools are distcc and ccache.
+
+This property is initialized by the value of
+the :variable:`CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER` variable if it is set
+when a target is created.
diff --git a/Help/release/dev/compiler-launcher.rst b/Help/release/dev/compiler-launcher.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ba692d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/release/dev/compiler-launcher.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+compiler-launcher
+-----------------
+
+* The :ref:`Makefile Generators` and the :generator:`Ninja` generator
+  learned to add compiler launcher tools like distcc and ccache along with the
+  compiler for ``C`` and ``CXX`` languages.  See the
+  :variable:`CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER` variable and
+  :prop_tgt:`<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER` target property for details.
diff --git a/Help/variable/CMAKE_LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER.rst b/Help/variable/CMAKE_LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7961f60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/variable/CMAKE_LANG_COMPILER_LAUNCHER.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER
+------------------------------
+
+Default value for :prop_tgt:`<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER` target property.
+This variable is used to initialize the property on each target as it is
+created.  This is done only when ``<LANG>`` is ``C`` or ``CXX``.