diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 31bc5b758..a654ff128 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ build_esp_idf_tests:
     - make ut-build-all-configs
     - python tools/UnitTestParser.py
 
-.build_examples_template: &build_examples_template
+.build_examples_make_template: &build_examples_make_template
   <<: *build_template
   retry: 1
   artifacts:
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ build_esp_idf_tests:
     expire_in: 1 week
   variables:
     IDF_CI_BUILD: "1"
-    LOG_PATH: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/log_examples"
+    LOG_PATH: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/log_examples_make"
   only:
     variables:
       - $BOT_TRIGGER_WITH_LABEL == null
@@ -222,36 +222,81 @@ build_esp_idf_tests:
     # build some of examples
     - mkdir -p ${LOG_PATH}
     - ${IDF_PATH}/tools/ci/build_examples.sh "${CI_JOB_NAME}"
-    # and again, with cmake!
-    - rm -rf ../build_examples_cmake
-    - mkdir ../build_examples_cmake
-    - cd ../build_examples_cmake
-    - mkdir -p ${LOG_PATH}_cmake
-    - LOG_PATH=${LOG_PATH}_cmake ${IDF_PATH}/tools/ci/build_examples_cmake.sh "${CI_JOB_NAME}"
 
-build_examples_00:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+# same as above, but for CMake
+.build_examples_cmake_template: &build_examples_cmake_template
+  <<: *build_template
+  retry: 1
+  artifacts:
+    when: always
+    paths:
+      - build_examples_cmake/*/*/*/build/*.bin
+      - build_examples_cmake/*/*/*/build/*.elf
+      - build_examples_cmake/*/*/*/build/*.map
+      - build_examples_cmake/*/*/*/build/download.config
+      - build_examples_cmake/*/*/*/build/bootloader/*.bin
+      - $LOG_PATH
+    expire_in: 1 week
+  variables:
+    IDF_CI_BUILD: "1"
+    LOG_PATH: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/log_examples_cmake"
+  script:
+    # it's not possible to build 100% out-of-tree and have the "artifacts"
+    # mechanism work, but this is the next best thing
+    - rm -rf build_examples_cmake
+    - mkdir build_examples_cmake
+    - cd build_examples_cmake
+    # build some of examples
+    - mkdir -p ${LOG_PATH}
+    - ${IDF_PATH}/tools/ci/build_examples_cmake.sh "${CI_JOB_NAME}"
 
-build_examples_01:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_00:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
 
-build_examples_02:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_01:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
 
-build_examples_03:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_02:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
 
-build_examples_04:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_03:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
 
-build_examples_05:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_04:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
 
-build_examples_06:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_05:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
 
-build_examples_07:
-  <<: *build_examples_template
+build_examples_make_06:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
+
+build_examples_make_07:
+  <<: *build_examples_make_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_00:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_01:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_02:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_03:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_04:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_05:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_06:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
+
+build_examples_cmake_07:
+  <<: *build_examples_cmake_template
 
 # If you want to add new build example jobs, please add it into dependencies of `.example_test_template`
 
@@ -623,14 +668,22 @@ assign_test:
       - $BOT_LABEL_EXAMPLE_TEST
   dependencies:
     - assign_test
-    - build_examples_00
-    - build_examples_01
-    - build_examples_02
-    - build_examples_03
-    - build_examples_04
-    - build_examples_05
-    - build_examples_06
-    - build_examples_07
+    - build_examples_make_00
+    - build_examples_make_01
+    - build_examples_make_02
+    - build_examples_make_03
+    - build_examples_make_04
+    - build_examples_make_05
+    - build_examples_make_06
+    - build_examples_make_07
+    - build_examples_cmake_00
+    - build_examples_cmake_01
+    - build_examples_cmake_02
+    - build_examples_cmake_03
+    - build_examples_cmake_04
+    - build_examples_cmake_05
+    - build_examples_cmake_06
+    - build_examples_cmake_07
   artifacts:
     when: always
     paths:
diff --git a/components/app_trace/CMakeLists.txt b/components/app_trace/CMakeLists.txt
index 711a50e50..151015021 100644
--- a/components/app_trace/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/components/app_trace/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -24,3 +24,5 @@ register_component()
 # disable --coverage for this component, as it is used as transport
 # for gcov
 component_compile_options("-fno-profile-arcs" "-fno-test-coverage")
+
+target_link_libraries(app_trace gcov)
diff --git a/examples/bluetooth/ble_spp_server/sdkconfig.defaults b/examples/bluetooth/ble_spp_server/sdkconfig.defaults
index e435f383c..12f8a9d8f 100644
--- a/examples/bluetooth/ble_spp_server/sdkconfig.defaults
+++ b/examples/bluetooth/ble_spp_server/sdkconfig.defaults
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 # BT config
 #
 CONFIG_BT_ENABLED=y
-
 #
 # ESP32-specific config
 #
diff --git a/examples/system/console/main/cmd_system.c b/examples/system/console/main/cmd_system.c
index b65645829..72d7e50fd 100644
--- a/examples/system/console/main/cmd_system.c
+++ b/examples/system/console/main/cmd_system.c
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ esptool.py v2.1-beta1
 )";
 
     const char* flash_output[] = {
-R"(Flashing binaries to serial port )" CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_PORT R"( (app at offset 0x10000)...
+R"(Flashing binaries to serial port (*) (app at offset 0x10000)...
 esptool.py v2.1-beta1
 Connecting....
 )",
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ Hard resetting...
 
     const char* monitor_output =
 R"(MONITOR
-)" LOG_COLOR_W R"(--- idf_monitor on )" CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_PORT R"( 115200 ---
+)" LOG_COLOR_W R"(--- idf_monitor on (*) 115200 ---
 --- Quit: Ctrl+] | Menu: Ctrl+T | Help: Ctrl+T followed by Ctrl+H --
 )" LOG_RESET_COLOR;
 
diff --git a/examples/system/gcov/README.md b/examples/system/gcov/README.md
index 5eefed2d5..1115146cc 100644
--- a/examples/system/gcov/README.md
+++ b/examples/system/gcov/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ It will enable coverage info for all source files of your component. If you need
 `gcov_example.o: CFLAGS += --coverage`
 Replace `gcov_example.o` with path to your file.
 
+  For CMake-based build system, use `component_compile_options(--coverage)` or: `  set_source_files_properties(gcov_example.c PROPERTIES COMPILE_FLAGS --coverage`
+
+
 ### Hard-coded Dump Call
 
 This method requires `esp_gcov_dump` to be called from your application's code. Below are additional steps which should be performed after the generic ones to obtain coverage info via hard-coded call. Step 1 is already done for this example project.
diff --git a/examples/system/gcov/main/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/system/gcov/main/CMakeLists.txt
index 170d5c552..8c9cbd3ea 100644
--- a/examples/system/gcov/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/system/gcov/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,3 +3,7 @@ set(COMPONENT_SRCS "gcov_example.c"
 set(COMPONENT_ADD_INCLUDEDIRS ".")
 
 register_component()
+
+set_source_files_properties(gcov_example.c
+    PROPERTIES COMPILE_FLAGS
+    --coverage)
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/README.md b/examples/system/ota/README.md
index a1d63d539..17efcd4ef 100644
--- a/examples/system/ota/README.md
+++ b/examples/system/ota/README.md
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout ca_key.pem -out ca_cert.pem -days 365
 
 ```
 
-Copy the certificate to OTA example directory:
+Copy the certificate to `server_certs` directory inside OTA example directory:
 
 ```
-cp ca_cert.pem $IDF_PATH/examples/system/ota/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
+cp ca_cert.pem /path/to/ota/example/server_certs/
 ```
 
 
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt
index f7e58ac26..a700e0b3b 100644
--- a/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 set(COMPONENT_SRCS "native_ota_example.c")
 set(COMPONENT_ADD_INCLUDEDIRS ".")
 
-
 # Embed the server root certificate into the final binary
-#
-# (If this was a component, we would set COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES here.)
-set(COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES ../../server_certs/ca_cert.pem)
+set(COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES ${PROJECT_PATH}/server_certs/ca_cert.pem)
 
 register_component()
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/component.mk b/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/component.mk
index 93a42f552..3a1333340 100644
--- a/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/component.mk
+++ b/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/main/component.mk
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 #
 # (Uses default behaviour of compiling all source files in directory, adding 'include' to include path.)
 
-COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES :=  ${IDF_PATH}/examples/system/ota/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
+COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES :=  ${PROJECT_PATH}/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/server_certs/ca_cert.pem b/examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
similarity index 100%
rename from examples/system/ota/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
rename to examples/system/ota/native_ota_example/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt
index 6d7b30391..8adb69a8f 100644
--- a/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@ set(COMPONENT_ADD_INCLUDEDIRS ".")
 
 
 # Embed the server root certificate into the final binary
-#
-# (If this was a component, we would set COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES here.)
-set(COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES ../../server_certs/ca_cert.pem)
-
+set(COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES ${PROJECT_PATH}/server_certs/ca_cert.pem)
 
 register_component()
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/component.mk b/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/component.mk
index 93a42f552..3a1333340 100644
--- a/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/component.mk
+++ b/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/main/component.mk
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 #
 # (Uses default behaviour of compiling all source files in directory, adding 'include' to include path.)
 
-COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES :=  ${IDF_PATH}/examples/system/ota/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
+COMPONENT_EMBED_TXTFILES :=  ${PROJECT_PATH}/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
diff --git a/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/server_certs/ca_cert.pem b/examples/system/ota/simple_ota_example/server_certs/ca_cert.pem
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/examples/wifi/simple_wifi/main/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/wifi/simple_wifi/main/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e7c00ec94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/wifi/simple_wifi/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+set(COMPONENT_SRCS "simple_wifi.c")
+set(COMPONENT_ADD_INCLUDEDIRS ".")
+
+register_component()
diff --git a/tools/ci/build_examples_cmake.sh b/tools/ci/build_examples_cmake.sh
index d86d30fbd..c796c076b 100755
--- a/tools/ci/build_examples_cmake.sh
+++ b/tools/ci/build_examples_cmake.sh
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ else
     [ -z ${NUM_OF_JOBS} ] && die "NUM_OF_JOBS is bad"
 
     # count number of examples
-    NUM_OF_EXAMPLES=$(echo ${EXAMPLE_PATHS} | wc -l )
-    [ -z ${NUM_OF_EXAMPLES} ] && die "NUM_OF_EXAMPLES is bad"
+    NUM_OF_EXAMPLES=$( echo "${EXAMPLE_PATHS}" | wc -l )
+    [ ${NUM_OF_EXAMPLES} -lt 80 ] && die "NUM_OF_EXAMPLES is bad"
 
     # separate intervals
     #57 / 5 == 12