enable_language(C CXX) add_library(lib1 STATIC) target_sources(lib1 PRIVATE lib1.c) target_sources(lib1 PUBLIC FILE_SET a TYPE SOURCES FILES lib2.c) set_source_files_properties(lib2.c PROPERTIES LANGUAGE C) set_property(FILE_SET a TARGET lib1 PROPERTY LANGUAGE CXX) set_property(FILE_SET a TARGET lib1 PROPERTY COMPILE_DEFINITIONS LIB1_A EXPECT_CXX "$<$:EXPECTED_LANGUAGE>") set_property(FILE_SET a TARGET lib1 PROPERTY INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subdir1") set_property(FILE_SET a TARGET lib1 PROPERTY INTERFACE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS INTERFACE_LIB1_A EXPECT_CXX "$<$:EXPECTED_LANGUAGE>") set_property(FILE_SET a TARGET lib1 PROPERTY INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subdir2") add_executable(main main.c) target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE lib1) target_compile_definitions(main PRIVATE CONSUMER) add_library(lib2 SHARED) target_link_libraries(lib2 PRIVATE lib1) target_compile_definitions(lib2 PRIVATE CONSUMER)