Impara Organizing Project Files | Project Structure and Organization

When all files are placed in a single directory, as in the flat project structure above, you may encounter several limitations. As your project grows, managing source files, headers, and build artifacts in one place can quickly become confusing and cluttered. It becomes difficult to distinguish between source code and generated files, increasing the risk of accidentally modifying or deleting the wrong files. Additionally, this layout does not scale well for projects with multiple components or libraries, making collaboration and maintenance more challenging.

src/main.c

src/hello.c

include/hello.h

CMakeLists.txt


              123456
            
#include "hello.h"

int main() {
    print_hello();
    return 0;
}

By separating your project into src/, include/, and build/ directories as shown above, you gain several advantages. Source files (.c) are organized under src/, header files (.h) reside in include/, and all build artifacts are placed in build/. This separation keeps your source tree clean and makes it easier to locate files. It also prevents build files from cluttering your source directories, reducing the chance of accidental modification or deletion of important code. Such organization is especially helpful as your project grows, making it easier to maintain and collaborate with others.

For small projects or quick prototypes, a flat layout with all files in one directory might be sufficient. However, as your project grows, it is recommended to adopt a structure like:

Place all source files in a src/ directory;
Place all header files in an include/ directory;
Direct all build output to a build/ directory.

This layout keeps your project organized and makes it easier to manage as it scales.

Note

Separating your source and build directories enables you to perform clean builds easily by simply deleting the build/ directory without affecting your source code. This approach also allows you to generate multiple build configurations (such as Debug and Release) in separate directories, keeping your source tree clean and organized.

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Sezione 3. Capitolo 1

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Suggested prompts:

What are some best practices for organizing larger projects?

Can you explain the purpose of each directory in more detail?

How do I transition an existing flat project to this structured layout?

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