# Inconsistent RUNTIME\_DEPEND... args to install() subcommands

**URL:** https://discourse.cmake.org/t/inconsistent-runtime-depend-args-to-install-subcommands/3691
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [July 4, 2021, 7:02am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/inconsistent-runtime-depend-args-to-install-subcommands/3691 "2021-07-04T07:02:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/craig.scott/32/20_2.png) [@craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/craig.scott)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2021, 7:02am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/inconsistent-runtime-depend-args-to-install-subcommands/3691/1 "2021-07-04T07:02:20Z")

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For CMake 3.21, we are adding support for `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCY_SET` and `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES` keywords to `install(TARGETS)`, but only `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCY_SET` for the new `install(IMPORTED_RUNTIME_ARTIFACTS)` subcommand. Should the latter command also support a `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES` keyword for consistency?

Cc: @kyle.edwards

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### Author: ![kyle.edwards](https://discourse.cmake.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@kyle.edwards](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/kyle.edwards)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/inconsistent-runtime-depend-args-to-install-subcommands/3691/2 "2021-07-05T13:40:31Z")

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`RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES` is just a shortcut to create an anonymous `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCY_SET`. `install(TARGETS)` gets used a lot more frequently than `install(IMPORTED_RUNTIME_ARTIFACTS)`, and so I think it’s more deserving of its own shortcut.

If there’s enough demand for `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES` with `install(IMPORTED_RUNTIME_ARTIFACTS)`, we could consider adding it.

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### Author: ![craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/craig.scott/32/20_2.png) [@craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/craig.scott)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/inconsistent-runtime-depend-args-to-install-subcommands/3691/3 "2021-07-05T23:12:16Z")

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I get that, but my comments were intended to highlight an inconsistency in a new API. We have an opportunity to not create that inconsistency from the outset. In getting myself up to speed on these features, it was something that as a user I noticed relatively early. It didn’t make sense (again, to me as a user) why `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES` was supported for one and not the other. I found myself leaning toward basically ignoring `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES` and just focusing on learning how to use `RUNTIME_DEPENDENCY_SET` because I know that will work for both subcommands. We shouldn’t be placing such obstacles on the learning path for users exploring these new features if we can avoid it.