If the syntax is the primary problem, there is Meson (reduced Python) and XMake (Lua).
I wonder why CMake cannot embed an alternative language? You could have CMakeLists.lua files modify the same targets and properties using Lua.
I wonder why CMake cannot embed an alternative language? You could have CMakeLists.lua files modify the same targets and properties using Lua.
CMake scripting is bad. Fragmentation of build-systems is probably even worse. Like I said, it still makes sense to use CMake for multi-platform code.
If the CMake folks made more of an effort with documentation, many of my complaints would go away. It's not necessary to burn down CMake and start afresh. The awful language wouldn't matter so much if there was clear and thorough documentation with plenty of complete examples, and in particular, definitive guidance and reusable boilerplate for the most common jobs (e.g. package discovery).
> I wonder why CMake cannot embed an alternative language?
The last things CMake needs are even more complexity and even less consistency.