diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 64d3360ed8..9a7278f079 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -202,6 +202,23 @@ option(ECAL_INSTALL_SAMPLE_SOURCES                  "Install the sources of eCAL
 option(ECAL_USE_NPCAP                               "Enable the eCAL Npcap Receiver (i.e. the Win10 performance fix)"  OFF)
 option(ECAL_USE_CLOCKLOCK_MUTEX                     "Use native mutex with monotonic clock (requires glibc >= 2.30)"   OFF)
 
+
+# Compiler warnings and additional flag configuration
+include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake)
+ecal_get_default_compiler_warnings(ecal_default_warnings)
+
+set(ECAL_COMPILER_WARNINGS "${ecal_default_warnings}" CACHE STRING "List of warning flags for eCAL code")
+mark_as_advanced(FORCE ECAL_COMPILER_WARNINGS)
+
+set(ECAL_COMPILER_EXTRA_ARGS "" CACHE STRING "List of additional compiler arguments for eCAL code")
+mark_as_advanced(FORCE ECAL_COMPILER_EXTRA_ARGS)
+
+# Internal cache variable combining the warning and extra flags
+set(ECAL_COMPILER_ARGS
+  ${ECAL_COMPILER_WARNINGS} ${ECAL_COMPILER_EXTRA_ARGS}
+  CACHE INTERNAL "Compiler flags used for eCAL code" FORCE
+)
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------
 # ecal core configuration
 # --------------------------------------------------------
@@ -587,7 +604,6 @@ install(FILES ${eCAL_config} ${eCAL_config_version}
 
 install(FILES
   cmake/helper_functions/ecal_add_functions.cmake
-  cmake/helper_functions/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake
   cmake/helper_functions/ecal_helper_functions.cmake
   cmake/helper_functions/ecal_install_functions.cmake
   DESTINATION ${${PROJECT_NAME}_install_cmake_dir}/helper_functions
diff --git a/app/mon/mon_plugins/monitor_tree_view/CMakeLists.txt b/app/mon/mon_plugins/monitor_tree_view/CMakeLists.txt
index 2e86602c2c..8079e8e3fd 100644
--- a/app/mon/mon_plugins/monitor_tree_view/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/mon/mon_plugins/monitor_tree_view/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ set(source_files
 
 set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
 
-add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
+ecal_add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
 add_library(eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} PUBLIC src)
 
-target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
+target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} PUBLIC
   Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR}::Core
   Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR}::Widgets
   CustomQt
diff --git a/app/play/play_core/CMakeLists.txt b/app/play/play_core/CMakeLists.txt
index b978dcca9c..ff1116394c 100644
--- a/app/play/play_core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/play/play_core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ set(source_files
   src/measurement_container.h
 ) 
 
-add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
+ecal_add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
 add_library(eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE src)
diff --git a/app/rec/rec_client_core/CMakeLists.txt b/app/rec/rec_client_core/CMakeLists.txt
index e6b2aaf07d..2f7dadb560 100644
--- a/app/rec/rec_client_core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/rec/rec_client_core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ if (ECAL_USE_CURL)
         )
 endif()
 
-add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
+ecal_add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
 add_library (eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE src)
diff --git a/app/rec/rec_server_core/CMakeLists.txt b/app/rec/rec_server_core/CMakeLists.txt
index 8092dc0a1e..8d31390ca5 100644
--- a/app/rec/rec_server_core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/rec/rec_server_core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ set(source_files
     src/recorder/remote_recorder.h
 ) 
 
-add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
+ecal_add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
 add_library (eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE src)
diff --git a/app/sys/sys_cli/CMakeLists.txt b/app/sys/sys_cli/CMakeLists.txt
index bdc1929246..405f585986 100644
--- a/app/sys/sys_cli/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/sys/sys_cli/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE
   protobuf::libprotobuf
   CustomTclap
   eCAL::core_pb
+  eCAL::protobuf_core
 )
 
 target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE cxx_std_14)
diff --git a/app/sys/sys_client_core/CMakeLists.txt b/app/sys/sys_client_core/CMakeLists.txt
index 47d703ef44..93ee57bc30 100644
--- a/app/sys/sys_client_core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/sys/sys_client_core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ set(source_files
   src/task.cpp
 ) 
 
-add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
+ecal_add_library (${PROJECT_NAME} ${source_files})
 add_library (eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE src)
diff --git a/app/sys/sys_core/CMakeLists.txt b/app/sys/sys_core/CMakeLists.txt
index 9ad5abd70e..ef48c460ad 100644
--- a/app/sys/sys_core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/sys/sys_core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ set(ecalsyscore_src
   src/task/task_group.cpp
 )
 
-add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} ${ecalsyscore_src})
+ecal_add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} ${ecalsyscore_src})
 add_library(eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME}
@@ -87,16 +87,19 @@ target_compile_definitions(${PROJECT_NAME}
 create_targets_protobuf()
 
 target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
+  PUBLIC
+  eCAL::core
+  spdlog::spdlog
+  eCAL::sys_client_core
+  eCAL::core_pb
+  eCAL::app_pb
+  eCAL::ecal-utils
+  PRIVATE
   Threads::Threads
   tinyxml2::tinyxml2
-  spdlog::spdlog
   protobuf::libprotobuf
   eCAL::protobuf_core
-  eCAL::core_pb
-  eCAL::app_pb
   EcalParser
-  eCAL::sys_client_core
-  eCAL::ecal-utils
 )
 
 target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PUBLIC cxx_std_14)
diff --git a/app/sys/sys_gui/CMakeLists.txt b/app/sys/sys_gui/CMakeLists.txt
index 7b66f7822b..91c2dd5432 100644
--- a/app/sys/sys_gui/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/sys/sys_gui/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ target_link_libraries (${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE
     CustomTclap
     tclap::tclap
     eCAL::core
+    eCAL::protobuf_core
     eCAL::sys_core
     protobuf::libprotobuf
     EcalParser
diff --git a/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_add_functions.cmake b/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_add_functions.cmake
index 089c46c5ff..65a2105349 100644
--- a/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_add_functions.cmake
+++ b/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_add_functions.cmake
@@ -18,7 +18,17 @@
 
 include_guard(GLOBAL)
 
-include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake")
+# ECAL_COMPILER_WARNINGS is set by the root CMakeLists and may be user customized
+add_library(_ecal_compiler_args INTERFACE)
+target_compile_options(_ecal_compiler_args INTERFACE
+  "$<$<COMPILE_LANGUAGE:C,CXX>:${ECAL_COMPILER_ARGS}>"
+)
+
+function(ecal_add_compiler_flags TARGET_NAME)
+  target_link_libraries("${TARGET_NAME}" PRIVATE
+    "$<BUILD_INTERFACE:_ecal_compiler_args>"
+  )
+endfunction()
 
 # This function will set the output names of the target according to eCAL conventions.
 function(ecal_add_app_console TARGET_NAME)
@@ -28,7 +38,7 @@ function(ecal_add_app_console TARGET_NAME)
     VERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_STRING}
     SOVERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_MAJOR}
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_${TARGET_NAME})
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 # This helper function automatically adds a gtest to ecal.
@@ -55,7 +65,7 @@ function(ecal_add_gtest TARGET_NAME)
     VERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_STRING}
     SOVERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_MAJOR}
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_${TARGET_NAME})
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_app_gui TARGET_NAME)
@@ -65,7 +75,7 @@ function(ecal_add_app_gui TARGET_NAME)
     VERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_STRING}
     SOVERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_MAJOR}
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_${TARGET_NAME})
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_app_qt TARGET_NAME)
@@ -77,7 +87,7 @@ function(ecal_add_app_qt TARGET_NAME)
   if(WIN32)
     set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES LINK_FLAGS "/SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS /ENTRY:mainCRTStartup")
   endif()
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_mon_plugin TARGET_NAME)
@@ -102,7 +112,7 @@ function(ecal_add_mon_plugin TARGET_NAME)
       $<$<CONFIG:RelWithDebInfo>:QT_NO_DEBUG>
       $<$<CONFIG:MinSizeRel>:QT_NO_DEBUG>
   )
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_rec_addon TARGET_NAME)
@@ -113,7 +123,7 @@ function(ecal_add_rec_addon TARGET_NAME)
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_${TARGET_NAME}
     RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY $<IF:$<BOOL:${WIN32}>,${CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY}/$<CONFIG>/ecalrec_addons,${CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY}/ecal/addons/rec>
   )
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_time_plugin TARGET_NAME)
@@ -122,7 +132,7 @@ function(ecal_add_time_plugin TARGET_NAME)
     VERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_STRING}
     SOVERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_MAJOR}
   )
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_shared_library TARGET_NAME)
@@ -131,7 +141,7 @@ function(ecal_add_shared_library TARGET_NAME)
     VERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_STRING}
     SOVERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_MAJOR}
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_${TARGET_NAME})
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_static_library TARGET_NAME)
@@ -142,7 +152,7 @@ function(ecal_add_static_library TARGET_NAME)
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_${TARGET_NAME}
     POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON
   )
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
 function(ecal_add_interface_library TARGET_NAME)
@@ -163,6 +173,6 @@ function(ecal_add_sample TARGET_NAME)
     VERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_STRING}
     SOVERSION ${eCAL_VERSION_MAJOR}
     OUTPUT_NAME ecal_sample_${TARGET_NAME})
-  ecal_add_compiler_warnings(${TARGET_NAME})
+  ecal_add_compiler_flags(${TARGET_NAME})
 endfunction()
 
diff --git a/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake b/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake
index dc657e3e0c..e992a1c120 100644
--- a/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake
+++ b/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_compiler_warnings.cmake
@@ -1,27 +1,17 @@
 include_guard(GLOBAL)
 
-add_library(_ecal_warnings INTERFACE)
+function(ecal_get_default_compiler_warnings cxx_out_var)
+  set(cxx_compiler_flags "")
 
-set(cxx_compiler_flags "")
+  if("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" MATCHES "MSVC")
+    message(STATUS "MSVC detected - Adding flags")
+    set(cxx_compiler_flags "/MP" "/W4")
+  elseif("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" MATCHES "GNU|Clang")
+    message(STATUS "Setting GNU/Clang flags")
+    set(cxx_compiler_flags "-Wall" "-Wextra")
+  else()
+    message(WARNING "Unknown compiler, will not set warning flags")
+  endif()
 
-if("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" MATCHES "MSVC")
-  message(STATUS "MSVC detected - Adding flags")
-  set(cxx_compiler_flags "/MP" "/W4")
-elseif("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" MATCHES "GNU|Clang")
-  message(STATUS "Setting GNU/Clang flags")
-  set(cxx_compiler_flags "-Wall" "-Wextra")
-else()
-  message(WARNING "Unknown compiler, will not set warning flags")
-endif()
-
-target_compile_options(_ecal_warnings INTERFACE
-  "$<$<COMPILE_LANGUAGE:C,CXX>:${cxx_compiler_flags}>"
-)
-
-unset(cxx_compiler_flags)
-
-function(ecal_add_compiler_warnings TARGET_NAME)
-  target_link_libraries("${TARGET_NAME}" PRIVATE
-    "$<BUILD_INTERFACE:_ecal_warnings>"
-  )
+  set("${cxx_out_var}" "${cxx_compiler_flags}" PARENT_SCOPE)
 endfunction()
diff --git a/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt b/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt
index b6be8282f7..9ecfc62306 100644
--- a/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ project(measurement)
 ###################################
 # Base Measurement common headers #
 ###################################
-add_library(measurement_base INTERFACE)
+ecal_add_interface_library(measurement_base)
 add_library(eCAL::measurement_base ALIAS measurement_base)
 
 target_sources(measurement_base
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ install(
 ###################################
 # Measurement library             #
 ###################################
-add_library(measurement INTERFACE)
+ecal_add_interface_library(measurement)
 add_library(eCAL::measurement ALIAS measurement)
 
 target_sources(measurement
diff --git a/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt b/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt
index 209d68daaa..efcabb3be1 100644
--- a/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 project(measurement_hdf5)
 
-add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} 
+ecal_add_library(${PROJECT_NAME}
   include/ecal/measurement/hdf5/reader.h
   include/ecal/measurement/hdf5/writer.h
   src/reader.cpp
diff --git a/ecal/service/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/service/CMakeLists.txt
index 8743239f47..9a1a2bdf16 100644
--- a/ecal/service/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/service/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,25 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
 project(ecal_service)
 
+if(TARGET _ecal_compiler_args)
+  # _ecal_compiler_args is the internal eCAL target containing the warning flags
+  # and will be absent if this is being built standalone
+  add_library(_ecal_service_warnings ALIAS _ecal_compiler_args)
+else()
+  # Otherwise, use a fallback implementation
+  if("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" MATCHES "MSVC")
+    set(cxx_compiler_flags "/MP" "/W4")
+  elseif("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" MATCHES "GNU|Clang")
+    set(cxx_compiler_flags "-Wall" "-Wextra")
+  else()
+    message(WARNING "Unknown compiler, will not set warning flags")
+  endif()
+
+  set(ECAL_SERVICE_COMPILER_WARNINGS "${cxx_compiler_flags}" CACHE STRING "Warning flags used for eCAL service code")
+  add_library(_ecal_service_warnings INTERFACE)
+  target_compile_options(_ecal_service_warnings INTERFACE "${ECAL_SERVICE_COMPILER_WARNINGS}")
+endif()
+
 # Main library
 add_subdirectory(ecal_service)
 
diff --git a/ecal/service/ecal_service/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/service/ecal_service/CMakeLists.txt
index f4b20103c0..87f26a32a0 100644
--- a/ecal/service/ecal_service/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/service/ecal_service/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5.1)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
 
 project(ecal_service)
 
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
         Threads::Threads
         $<$<BOOL:${WIN32}>:ws2_32>
         $<$<BOOL:${WIN32}>:wsock32>
+        _ecal_service_warnings
 
 )
 
@@ -72,12 +73,6 @@ target_compile_definitions(${PROJECT_NAME}
 
 target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PUBLIC cxx_std_14)
 
-target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE
-                           $<$<OR:$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:Clang>,$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:AppleClang>,$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:GNU>>:
-                                -Wall -Wextra>
-                           $<$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:MSVC>:
-                                /W4>)
-
 # Add own public include directory
 target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PUBLIC 
diff --git a/ecal/service/samples/sample_client/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/service/samples/sample_client/CMakeLists.txt
index 90c4cd4a67..240b994333 100644
--- a/ecal/service/samples/sample_client/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/service/samples/sample_client/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${sources})
 
 target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PRIVATE
-    ecal_service)
+    ecal_service
+    _ecal_service_warnings
+)
 
 target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE cxx_std_14)
 
diff --git a/ecal/service/samples/sample_server/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/service/samples/sample_server/CMakeLists.txt
index ffeca863a7..8ab0f4b92c 100644
--- a/ecal/service/samples/sample_server/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/service/samples/sample_server/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${sources})
 
 target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PRIVATE
-    ecal_service)
+    ecal_service
+    _ecal_service_warnings
+)
 
 target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE cxx_std_14)
 
diff --git a/ecal/service/samples/sample_standalone/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/service/samples/sample_standalone/CMakeLists.txt
index 0806b506a7..8896fbc7c6 100644
--- a/ecal/service/samples/sample_standalone/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/service/samples/sample_standalone/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME} ${sources})
 
 target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PRIVATE
-    ecal_service)
+    ecal_service
+    _ecal_service_warnings
+)
 
 target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE cxx_std_14)
 
diff --git a/lib/EcalParser/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/EcalParser/CMakeLists.txt
index 92ede4c3c3..5af7ae8dbf 100644
--- a/lib/EcalParser/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/EcalParser/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ set(sources
     src/functions/username.h
 )
 
-# QEcalParser is an internal implementation detail for applications so it can
+# EcalParser is an internal implementation detail for applications so it can
 # always be static and not installed/exported
 ecal_add_static_library(${PROJECT_NAME}
     ${includes}