I see this as completely backwards. Tools like cmake are often worse for beginners because they have no idea how to understand them, and it involves learning another new language in addition to whatever programming language they're learning. Looking at something like Xcode or Visual Studio or Eclipse, where they can see "these are the source files that comprise my project," is much easier.
I do agree that learning the difference between the editor, compiler, the linker, and various other pieces is important, but I think there are better ways to do it than trying to understand the unix build tools right off the bat.
FWIW, my first exposure to all of this was in high school where we were taught Turbo Pascal on DOS. It was essentially a text-based IDE, but the teacher still taught us about the editor, the compiler, the linker, etc. and it made perfect sense. When I went to use the unix tools in college, it was quite confusing.
I do agree that learning the difference between the editor, compiler, the linker, and various other pieces is important, but I think there are better ways to do it than trying to understand the unix build tools right off the bat.
FWIW, my first exposure to all of this was in high school where we were taught Turbo Pascal on DOS. It was essentially a text-based IDE, but the teacher still taught us about the editor, the compiler, the linker, etc. and it made perfect sense. When I went to use the unix tools in college, it was quite confusing.