Add the INTERFACE_LIBRARY target type.

This target type only contains INTERFACE_* properties, so it can be
used as a structural node. The target-specific commands enforce
that they may only be used with the INTERFACE keyword when used
with INTERFACE_LIBRARY targets. The old-style target properties
matching LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES_<CONFIG> are always ignored for
this target type.

The name of the INTERFACE_LIBRARY must match a validity generator
expression. The validity is similar to that of an ALIAS target,
but with the additional restriction that it may not contain
double colons. Double colons will carry the meaning of IMPORTED
or ALIAS targets in CMake 2.8.13.

An ALIAS target may be created for an INTERFACE library.

At this point it can not be exported and does not appear in the
buildsystem and project files are not created for them. That may
be added as a feature in a later commit.

The generators need some changes to handle the INTERFACE_LIBRARY
targets returned by cmComputeLinkInterface::GetItems. The Ninja
generator does not use that API, so it doesn't require changes
related to that.

24 files changed, 255 insertions, 48 deletions

diff --git a/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.cxx b/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.cxx
index cbc6ed1e91..130a033a8b 100644
--- a/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.cxx
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ bool cmAddLibraryCommand
       ++s;
       isAlias = true;
       }
+    else if(libType == "INTERFACE")
+      {
+      ++s;
+      type = cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY;
+      haveSpecifiedType = true;
+      }
     else if(*s == "EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL")
       {
       ++s;
@@ -151,7 +157,8 @@ bool cmAddLibraryCommand
     if(aliasedType != cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY
         && aliasedType != cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY
         && aliasedType != cmTarget::MODULE_LIBRARY
-        && aliasedType != cmTarget::OBJECT_LIBRARY)
+        && aliasedType != cmTarget::OBJECT_LIBRARY
+        && aliasedType != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
       {
       cmOStringStream e;
       e << "cannot create ALIAS target \"" << libName
@@ -249,6 +256,26 @@ bool cmAddLibraryCommand
     }
   }
 
+  std::vector<std::string> srclists;
+
+  if(type == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    if (!cmGeneratorExpression::IsValidTargetName(libName)
+        || libName.find("::") != std::string::npos)
+      {
+      cmOStringStream e;
+      e << "Invalid name for INTERFACE library target: " << libName;
+      this->SetError(e.str().c_str());
+      return false;
+      }
+
+    this->Makefile->AddLibrary(libName.c_str(),
+                               type,
+                               srclists,
+                               excludeFromAll);
+    return true;
+    }
+
   if (s == args.end())
     {
     std::string msg = "You have called ADD_LIBRARY for library ";
@@ -258,7 +285,6 @@ bool cmAddLibraryCommand
     cmSystemTools::Message(msg.c_str() ,"Warning");
     }
 
-  std::vector<std::string> srclists;
   while (s != args.end())
     {
     srclists.push_back(*s);
diff --git a/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.h b/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.h
index 59354b0f5d..64d048b277 100644
--- a/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.h
+++ b/Source/cmAddLibraryCommand.h
@@ -151,6 +151,16 @@ public:
       "properties of <target>, that is, it may not be used as the operand of "
       "set_property, set_target_properties, target_link_libraries etc.  An "
       "ALIAS target may not be installed of exported."
+      "\n"
+      "The signature\n"
+      "  add_library(<name> INTERFACE)\n"
+      "creates an interface target. An interface target does not directly "
+      "create build output, though it may have properties set on it and it "
+      "may be installed, exported and imported.  Typically the INTERFACE_* "
+      "properties are populated on the interface target using the "
+      "set_property(), target_link_libraries(), target_include_directories() "
+      "and target_compile_defintions() commands, and then it is used as an "
+      "argument to target_link_libraries() like any other target."
       ;
     }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmComputeLinkDepends.cxx b/Source/cmComputeLinkDepends.cxx
index dec2b54d17..a2f3f7d8fb 100644
--- a/Source/cmComputeLinkDepends.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmComputeLinkDepends.cxx
@@ -355,9 +355,16 @@ void cmComputeLinkDepends::FollowLinkEntry(BFSEntry const& qe)
     if(cmTarget::LinkInterface const* iface =
        entry.Target->GetLinkInterface(this->Config, this->HeadTarget))
       {
+      const bool isIface =
+                      entry.Target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY;
       // This target provides its own link interface information.
       this->AddLinkEntries(depender_index, iface->Libraries);
 
+      if (isIface)
+        {
+        return;
+        }
+
       // Handle dependent shared libraries.
       this->FollowSharedDeps(depender_index, iface);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmComputeLinkInformation.cxx b/Source/cmComputeLinkInformation.cxx
index fb7b5b67d0..d3b28ed952 100644
--- a/Source/cmComputeLinkInformation.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmComputeLinkInformation.cxx
@@ -655,6 +655,11 @@ void cmComputeLinkInformation::AddItem(std::string const& item, cmTarget* tgt)
         (this->UseImportLibrary &&
          (impexe || tgt->GetType() == cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY));
 
+      if(tgt->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+        {
+        this->Items.push_back(Item(std::string(), true, tgt));
+        return;
+        }
       // Pass the full path to the target file.
       std::string lib = tgt->GetFullPath(config, implib, true);
       if(!this->LinkDependsNoShared ||
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
index 7f2b592f3e..5baf4bc652 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
@@ -2555,6 +2555,10 @@ void cmGlobalGenerator::WriteSummary()
   for(std::map<cmStdString,cmTarget *>::const_iterator ti =
         this->TotalTargets.begin(); ti != this->TotalTargets.end(); ++ti)
     {
+    if ((ti->second)->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     this->WriteSummary(ti->second);
     fout << ti->second->GetSupportDirectory() << "\n";
     }
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalNinjaGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalNinjaGenerator.cxx
index 61d02726e3..e45d024560 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalNinjaGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalNinjaGenerator.cxx
@@ -877,7 +877,12 @@ cmGlobalNinjaGenerator
     cmTargetDependSet const& targetDeps =
       this->GetTargetDirectDepends(*target);
     for (cmTargetDependSet::const_iterator i = targetDeps.begin();
-         i != targetDeps.end(); ++i) {
+         i != targetDeps.end(); ++i)
+      {
+      if ((*i)->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+        {
+        continue;
+        }
       this->AppendTargetOutputs(*i, outputs);
     }
   }
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalUnixMakefileGenerator3.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalUnixMakefileGenerator3.cxx
index 88cd6e5f84..803e74bf3d 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalUnixMakefileGenerator3.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalUnixMakefileGenerator3.cxx
@@ -881,6 +881,10 @@ cmGlobalUnixMakefileGenerator3
     for(TargetDependSet::const_iterator di = depends.begin();
         di != depends.end(); ++di)
       {
+      if ((*di)->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+        {
+        continue;
+        }
       count += this->CountProgressMarksInTarget(*di, emitted);
       }
     }
@@ -967,6 +971,10 @@ cmGlobalUnixMakefileGenerator3
     {
     // Create the target-level dependency.
     cmTarget const* dep = *i;
+    if (dep->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     cmLocalUnixMakefileGenerator3* lg3 =
       static_cast<cmLocalUnixMakefileGenerator3*>
       (dep->GetMakefile()->GetLocalGenerator());
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
index b3fabdade2..5296248db9 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
@@ -200,6 +200,10 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator
       tt != orderedProjectTargets.end(); ++tt)
     {
     cmTarget* target = *tt;
+    if(target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     // Write the project into the DSW file
     const char* expath = target->GetProperty("EXTERNAL_MSPROJECT");
     if(expath)
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
index b47566561e..65eb3a9e1b 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
@@ -392,6 +392,10 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator::WriteTargetDepends(
         projectTargets.begin(); tt != projectTargets.end(); ++tt)
     {
     cmTarget* target = *tt;
+    if(target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     cmMakefile* mf = target->GetMakefile();
     const char *vcprojName =
       target->GetProperty("GENERATOR_FILE_NAME");
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx
index e4244e062b..b6deed2c2e 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx
@@ -406,6 +406,10 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator::WriteProjectDepends(
   for(OrderedTargetDependSet::const_iterator i = depends.begin();
       i != depends.end(); ++i)
     {
+    if((*i)->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     std::string guid = this->GetGUID((*i)->GetName());
     fout << "\t\t{" << guid << "} = {" << guid << "}\n";
     }
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx
index 59310162ce..af80070c34 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx
@@ -349,6 +349,10 @@ cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::GetTargetLinkClosure(cmTarget* target)
 void cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::FollowLinkDepends(
   cmTarget* target, std::set<cmTarget*>& linked)
 {
+  if(target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return;
+    }
   if(linked.insert(target).second &&
      target->GetType() == cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY)
     {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx
index 0a2b32b4fb..5a0fb0794b 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx
@@ -976,6 +976,11 @@ cmGlobalXCodeGenerator::CreateXCodeTargets(cmLocalGenerator* gen,
       continue;
       }
 
+    if(cmtarget.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
+
     if(cmtarget.GetType() == cmTarget::UTILITY ||
        cmtarget.GetType() == cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET)
       {
@@ -1686,6 +1691,11 @@ void cmGlobalXCodeGenerator::CreateBuildSettings(cmTarget& target,
                                                  cmXCodeObject* buildSettings,
                                                  const char* configName)
 {
+  if(target.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return;
+    }
+
   std::string flags;
   std::string defFlags;
   bool shared = ((target.GetType() == cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY) ||
@@ -2550,6 +2560,10 @@ cmXCodeObject*
 cmGlobalXCodeGenerator::CreateXCodeTarget(cmTarget& cmtarget,
                                           cmXCodeObject* buildPhases)
 {
+  if(cmtarget.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return 0;
+    }
   cmXCodeObject* target =
     this->CreateObject(cmXCodeObject::PBXNativeTarget);
   target->AddAttribute("buildPhases", buildPhases);
@@ -2756,6 +2770,10 @@ void cmGlobalXCodeGenerator
 ::AddDependAndLinkInformation(cmXCodeObject* target)
 {
   cmTarget* cmtarget = target->GetTarget();
+  if(cmtarget->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return;
+    }
   if(!cmtarget)
     {
     cmSystemTools::Error("Error no target on xobject\n");
@@ -2867,7 +2885,8 @@ void cmGlobalXCodeGenerator
         {
         linkLibs += this->XCodeEscapePath(li->Value.c_str());
         }
-      else
+      else if (!li->Target
+          || li->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
         {
         linkLibs += li->Value;
         }
@@ -2909,6 +2928,10 @@ void cmGlobalXCodeGenerator::CreateGroups(cmLocalGenerator* root,
         {
         continue;
         }
+      if(cmtarget.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+        {
+        continue;
+        }
 
       // add the soon to be generated Info.plist file as a source for a
       // MACOSX_BUNDLE file
diff --git a/Source/cmInstallTargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmInstallTargetGenerator.cxx
index c9624c8e0e..6aa178f9af 100644
--- a/Source/cmInstallTargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmInstallTargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@ void cmInstallTargetGenerator::GenerateScriptForConfig(std::ostream& os,
     case cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY: type = cmInstallType_STATIC_LIBRARY; break;
     case cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY: type = cmInstallType_SHARED_LIBRARY; break;
     case cmTarget::MODULE_LIBRARY: type = cmInstallType_MODULE_LIBRARY; break;
+    case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
+      // Not reachable. We never create a cmInstallTargetGenerator for
+      // an INTERFACE_LIBRARY.
+      assert(!"INTERFACE_LIBRARY targets have no installable outputs.");
+      break;
     case cmTarget::OBJECT_LIBRARY:
     case cmTarget::UTILITY:
     case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
diff --git a/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx
index 9c04109656..a8eb9b8307 100644
--- a/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx
@@ -1793,6 +1793,10 @@ void cmLocalGenerator::OutputLinkLibraries(std::string& linkLibraries,
   ItemVector const& items = cli.GetItems();
   for(ItemVector::const_iterator li = items.begin(); li != items.end(); ++li)
     {
+    if(li->Target && li->Target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     if(li->IsPath)
       {
       linkLibs += this->ConvertToLinkReference(li->Value);
@@ -1996,6 +2000,10 @@ bool cmLocalGenerator::GetRealDependency(const char* inName,
         // An object library has no single file on which to depend.
         // This was listed to get the target-level dependency.
         return false;
+      case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
+        // An interface library has no file on which to depend.
+        // This was listed to get the target-level dependency.
+        return false;
       case cmTarget::UTILITY:
       case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
         // A utility target has no file on which to depend.  This was listed
diff --git a/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx b/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
index c3789a0225..aedd6edbf7 100644
--- a/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio10Generator::Generate()
   cmTargets &tgts = this->Makefile->GetTargets();
   for(cmTargets::iterator l = tgts.begin(); l != tgts.end(); ++l)
     {
+    if(l->second.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     if(static_cast<cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator*>(this->GlobalGenerator)
        ->TargetIsFortranOnly(l->second))
       {
diff --git a/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx b/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
index e5b4057d28..f0f47cb616 100644
--- a/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator::AddCMakeListsRules()
   for(cmTargets::iterator l = tgts.begin();
       l != tgts.end(); l++)
     {
+    if (l->second.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
+
     // Add a rule to regenerate the build system when the target
     // specification source changes.
     const char* suppRegenRule =
@@ -146,6 +151,8 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator::OutputDSPFile()
       case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
         this->SetBuildType(UTILITY, l->first.c_str(), l->second);
         break;
+      case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
+        continue;
       default:
         cmSystemTools::Error("Bad target type", l->first.c_str());
         break;
@@ -1839,7 +1846,8 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio6Generator
       options +=
         this->ConvertToOptionallyRelativeOutputPath(l->Value.c_str());
       }
-    else
+    else if (!l->Target
+        || l->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
       {
       options += l->Value;
       }
diff --git a/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx b/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
index bd6c860047..64de448dc5 100644
--- a/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator::AddHelperCommands()
     static_cast<cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator *>(this->GlobalGenerator);
   for(cmTargets::iterator l = tgts.begin(); l != tgts.end(); l++)
     {
+    if(l->second.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     const char* path = l->second.GetProperty("EXTERNAL_MSPROJECT");
     if(path)
       {
@@ -181,6 +185,10 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator::WriteProjectFiles()
   for(cmTargets::iterator l = tgts.begin();
       l != tgts.end(); l++)
     {
+    if(l->second.GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     // INCLUDE_EXTERNAL_MSPROJECT command only affects the workspace
     // so don't build a projectfile for it
     if(!l->second.GetProperty("EXTERNAL_MSPROJECT"))
@@ -1258,6 +1266,7 @@ void cmLocalVisualStudio7Generator::OutputBuildTool(std::ostream& fout,
     }
     case cmTarget::UTILITY:
     case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
+    case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
       break;
     }
 }
@@ -1288,7 +1297,8 @@ cmLocalVisualStudio7GeneratorInternals
                                     cmLocalGenerator::UNCHANGED);
       fout << lg->ConvertToXMLOutputPath(rel.c_str()) << " ";
       }
-    else
+    else if (!l->Target
+        || l->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
       {
       fout << l->Value << " ";
       }
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index 34541e996c..40e55c238b 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -1463,6 +1463,7 @@ void cmMakefile::AddLinkLibraryForTarget(const char *target,
       // if it is not a static or shared library then you can not link to it
       if(!((tgt->GetType() == cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY) ||
            (tgt->GetType() == cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY) ||
+           (tgt->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY) ||
            tgt->IsExecutableWithExports()))
         {
         cmOStringStream e;
@@ -1990,6 +1991,7 @@ void cmMakefile::AddGlobalLinkInformation(const char* name, cmTarget& target)
     {
     case cmTarget::UTILITY:
     case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
+    case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
       return;
     default:;
     }
@@ -2017,7 +2019,8 @@ cmTarget* cmMakefile::AddLibrary(const char* lname, cmTarget::TargetType type,
   if (    (type != cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY)
        && (type != cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY)
        && (type != cmTarget::MODULE_LIBRARY)
-       && (type != cmTarget::OBJECT_LIBRARY))
+       && (type != cmTarget::OBJECT_LIBRARY)
+       && (type != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY))
     {
     this->IssueMessage(cmake::INTERNAL_ERROR,
                        "cmMakefile::AddLibrary given invalid target type.");
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
index 0829cab6a9..59f65deaf9 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -996,7 +996,12 @@ void cmMakefileTargetGenerator::WriteTargetDependRules()
           i = items.begin(); i != items.end(); ++i)
       {
       cmTarget const* linkee = i->Target;
-      if(linkee && !linkee->IsImported() && emitted.insert(linkee).second)
+      if(linkee && !linkee->IsImported()
+                // We can ignore the INTERFACE_LIBRARY items because
+                // Target->GetLinkInformation already processed their
+                // link interface and they don't have any output themselves.
+                && linkee->GetType() != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY
+                && emitted.insert(linkee).second)
         {
         cmMakefile* mf = linkee->GetMakefile();
         cmLocalGenerator* lg = mf->GetLocalGenerator();
diff --git a/Source/cmTarget.cxx b/Source/cmTarget.cxx
index ac655da128..2461ed6d97 100644
--- a/Source/cmTarget.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTarget.cxx
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ const char* cmTarget::GetTargetTypeName(TargetType targetType)
         return "UTILITY";
       case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
         return "GLOBAL_TARGET";
+      case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
+        return "INTERFACE_LIBRARY";
       case cmTarget::UNKNOWN_LIBRARY:
         return "UNKNOWN_LIBRARY";
     }
@@ -1727,6 +1729,14 @@ void cmTarget::SetMakefile(cmMakefile* mf)
   CM_FOR_EACH_TARGET_POLICY(CAPTURE_TARGET_POLICY)
 
 #undef CAPTURE_TARGET_POLICY
+
+  if (this->TargetTypeValue == INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    // This policy is checked in a few conditions. The properties relevant
+    // to the policy are always ignored for INTERFACE_LIBRARY targets,
+    // so ensure that the conditions don't lead to nonsense.
+    this->PolicyStatusCMP0022 = cmPolicies::NEW;
+    }
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1792,6 +1802,7 @@ bool cmTarget::IsLinkable()
           this->GetType() == cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY ||
           this->GetType() == cmTarget::MODULE_LIBRARY ||
           this->GetType() == cmTarget::UNKNOWN_LIBRARY ||
+          this->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY ||
           this->IsExecutableWithExports());
 }
 
@@ -2563,8 +2574,8 @@ void cmTarget::AddLinkLibrary(cmMakefile& mf,
     return;
     }
 
-  {
   cmTarget *tgt = this->Makefile->FindTargetToUse(lib);
+  {
   const bool isNonImportedTarget = tgt && !tgt->IsImported();
 
   const std::string libName = (isNonImportedTarget && llt != GENERAL)
@@ -2575,7 +2586,8 @@ void cmTarget::AddLinkLibrary(cmMakefile& mf,
                                                           llt).c_str());
   }
 
-  if (cmGeneratorExpression::Find(lib) != std::string::npos)
+  if (cmGeneratorExpression::Find(lib) != std::string::npos
+      || (tgt && tgt->GetType() == INTERFACE_LIBRARY))
     {
     return;
     }
@@ -4091,6 +4103,7 @@ const char *cmTarget::GetProperty(const char* prop,
      this->GetType() == cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY ||
      this->GetType() == cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY ||
      this->GetType() == cmTarget::MODULE_LIBRARY ||
+     this->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY ||
      this->GetType() == cmTarget::UNKNOWN_LIBRARY)
     {
     if(strcmp(prop,"LOCATION") == 0)
@@ -5999,6 +6012,10 @@ cmTarget::GetImportInfo(const char* config, cmTarget *headTarget)
     i = this->Internal->ImportInfoMap.insert(entry).first;
     }
 
+  if(this->GetType() == INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return &i->second;
+    }
   // If the location is empty then the target is not available for
   // this configuration.
   if(i->second.Location.empty() && i->second.ImportLibrary.empty())
@@ -6152,6 +6169,49 @@ void cmTarget::ComputeImportInfo(std::string const& desired_config,
     return;
     }
 
+  // Get the link interface.
+  {
+  std::string linkProp = "INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES";
+  const char *propertyLibs = this->GetProperty(linkProp.c_str());
+
+  if (this->GetType() != INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    if(!propertyLibs)
+      {
+      linkProp = "IMPORTED_LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES";
+      linkProp += suffix;
+      propertyLibs = this->GetProperty(linkProp.c_str());
+      }
+
+    if(!propertyLibs)
+      {
+      linkProp = "IMPORTED_LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES";
+      propertyLibs = this->GetProperty(linkProp.c_str());
+      }
+    }
+  if(propertyLibs)
+    {
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+
+    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+                                        this->GetName(),
+                                        linkProp, 0, 0);
+    cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(propertyLibs)
+                                       ->Evaluate(this->Makefile,
+                                                  desired_config.c_str(),
+                                                  false,
+                                                  headTarget,
+                                                  this,
+                                                  &dagChecker),
+                                    info.LinkInterface.Libraries);
+    }
+  }
+  if(this->GetType() == INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return;
+    }
+
   // A provided configuration has been chosen.  Load the
   // configuration's properties.
 
@@ -6224,42 +6284,6 @@ void cmTarget::ComputeImportInfo(std::string const& desired_config,
       }
     }
 
-  // Get the link interface.
-  {
-  std::string linkProp = "INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES";
-  const char *propertyLibs = this->GetProperty(linkProp.c_str());
-
-  if (!propertyLibs)
-    {
-    linkProp = "IMPORTED_LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES";
-    linkProp += suffix;
-    propertyLibs = this->GetProperty(linkProp.c_str());
-    }
-
-  if(!propertyLibs)
-    {
-    linkProp = "IMPORTED_LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES";
-    propertyLibs = this->GetProperty(linkProp.c_str());
-    }
-  if(propertyLibs)
-    {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
-
-    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
-                                        this->GetName(),
-                                        linkProp, 0, 0);
-    cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(propertyLibs)
-                                       ->Evaluate(this->Makefile,
-                                                  desired_config.c_str(),
-                                                  false,
-                                                  headTarget,
-                                                  this,
-                                                  &dagChecker),
-                                    info.LinkInterface.Libraries);
-    }
-  }
-
   // Get the link dependencies.
   {
   std::string linkProp = "IMPORTED_LINK_DEPENDENT_LIBRARIES";
@@ -6520,6 +6544,11 @@ bool cmTarget::ComputeLinkInterface(const char* config, LinkInterface& iface,
         }
       }
     }
+  else if (this->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    explicitLibraries = newExplicitLibraries;
+    linkIfaceProp = "INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES";
+    }
 
   // There is no implicit link interface for executables or modules
   // so if none was explicitly set then there is no link interface.
@@ -6547,7 +6576,8 @@ bool cmTarget::ComputeLinkInterface(const char* config, LinkInterface& iface,
                                         this, &dagChecker), iface.Libraries);
 
     if(this->GetType() == cmTarget::SHARED_LIBRARY
-        || this->GetType() == cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY)
+        || this->GetType() == cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY
+        || this->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
       {
       // Shared libraries may have runtime implementation dependencies
       // on other shared libraries that are not in the interface.
diff --git a/Source/cmTarget.h b/Source/cmTarget.h
index 27b74ca4b0..f7425742eb 100644
--- a/Source/cmTarget.h
+++ b/Source/cmTarget.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
   enum TargetType { EXECUTABLE, STATIC_LIBRARY,
                     SHARED_LIBRARY, MODULE_LIBRARY,
                     OBJECT_LIBRARY, UTILITY, GLOBAL_TARGET,
+                    INTERFACE_LIBRARY,
                     UNKNOWN_LIBRARY};
   static const char* GetTargetTypeName(TargetType targetType);
   enum CustomCommandType { PRE_BUILD, PRE_LINK, POST_BUILD };
diff --git a/Source/cmTargetLinkLibrariesCommand.cxx b/Source/cmTargetLinkLibrariesCommand.cxx
index 863b3917eb..22f6a03614 100644
--- a/Source/cmTargetLinkLibrariesCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTargetLinkLibrariesCommand.cxx
@@ -322,6 +322,15 @@ bool
 cmTargetLinkLibrariesCommand::HandleLibrary(const char* lib,
                                             cmTarget::LinkLibraryType llt)
 {
+  if(this->Target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY
+      && this->CurrentProcessingState != ProcessingKeywordLinkInterface)
+    {
+    this->Makefile->IssueMessage(cmake::FATAL_ERROR,
+      "INTERFACE library can only be used with the INTERFACE keyword of "
+      "target_link_libraries");
+    return false;
+    }
+
   cmTarget::TLLSignature sig =
         (this->CurrentProcessingState == ProcessingPlainPrivateInterface
       || this->CurrentProcessingState == ProcessingPlainPublicInterface
@@ -407,6 +416,11 @@ cmTargetLinkLibrariesCommand::HandleLibrary(const char* lib,
     return true;
     }
 
+  if (this->Target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+    {
+    return true;
+    }
+
   // Get the list of configurations considered to be DEBUG.
   std::vector<std::string> const& debugConfigs =
     this->Makefile->GetCMakeInstance()->GetDebugConfigs();
diff --git a/Source/cmTargetPropCommandBase.cxx b/Source/cmTargetPropCommandBase.cxx
index 1862cb6961..e7b699932b 100644
--- a/Source/cmTargetPropCommandBase.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTargetPropCommandBase.cxx
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ bool cmTargetPropCommandBase
     && (this->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::STATIC_LIBRARY)
     && (this->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::OBJECT_LIBRARY)
     && (this->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::MODULE_LIBRARY)
+    && (this->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
     && (this->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::EXECUTABLE))
     {
     this->SetError("called with non-compilable target type");
@@ -112,6 +113,14 @@ bool cmTargetPropCommandBase
     return false;
     }
 
+  if (this->Target->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY
+      && scope != "INTERFACE")
+    {
+    this->SetError("may only be set INTERFACE properties on INTERFACE "
+      "targets");
+    return false;
+    }
+
   ++argIndex;
 
   std::vector<std::string> content;
diff --git a/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx
index a26b2913ab..0dbb5ebbf7 100644
--- a/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ void cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator::WriteProjectConfigurationValues()
         break;
       case cmTarget::GLOBAL_TARGET:
       case cmTarget::UNKNOWN_LIBRARY:
+      case cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY:
         break;
       }
     configType += "</ConfigurationType>\n";
@@ -1701,7 +1702,8 @@ void cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator::AddLibraries(
       libstring += sep;
       libstring += path;
       }
-    else
+    else if (!l->Target
+        || l->Target->GetType() != cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
       {
       libstring += sep;
       libstring += l->Value;
@@ -1836,6 +1838,10 @@ void cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator::WriteProjectReferences()
        i != depends.end(); ++i)
     {
     cmTarget* dt = *i;
+    if(dt->GetType() == cmTarget::INTERFACE_LIBRARY)
+      {
+      continue;
+      }
     // skip fortran targets as they can not be processed by MSBuild
     // the only reference will be in the .sln file
     if(static_cast<cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator*>(this->GlobalGenerator)