Here is what to do to make binary packages using CMake. The string "_SRC_DIR_" represents the cmake-lyx-build-directory, e.g. /usr/src/lyx/lyx-devel. The string "_BUILD_DIR_" represents the cmake-lyx-build-directory, e.g. /usr/BUILD/BuildLyx. The string "_PKG_NAME_" represents the name of the package, like "lyx-2.1.38687-Linux" on my Linux-system Using cmake-gui: cd _BUILD_DIR_; cmake-gui _SRC_DIR_ select: Show Advanced Entries Search: CPACK Now select the package-type(s) you would like to be build select: Configure Likewise you may call cmake directly. E.g. to create debian package cd _BUILD_DIR_; cmake _SRC_DIR_ -DCPACK_BINARY_DEB:BOOL=ON The generators (dependent on your system) are DEB, RPM, TGZ, NSIS, STGZ, TBZ2, TZ Now it is possible to create the package cd _BUILD_DIR_; make package #The created packages will be something like #_PKG_NAME_.tar.gz #_PKG_NAME_.zip #... In archives for TGZ, STGZ, TBZ2 or TZ the filenames are prepended with the package-name, therefore we have to get rid of it (e.g. for STGZ the parameter "--exclude-subdir"). Some installation proceedings: STGZ: sudo _PKG_NAME_.sh --exclude-subdir TGZ: sudo tar -zxv --strip-components 1 --directory / -f _PKG_NAME_.tar.gz DEB: sudo dpkg -i _PKG_NAME_.deb RPM: sudo rpm -U --force _PKG_NAME_.rpm See also: http://www.cmake.org/Wiki/CMake:CPackPackageGenerators http://www.cmake.org/cmake/help/cpack2.6docs.html