diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 27a49a6..2c211d9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,30 +16,35 @@ endif ()
 
 project(quantlib_for_maven VERSION 1.35.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
 
+# set the Boost and Swig versions we want to use
+# to ensure compatibility across linux, macos and windows builds
+set(RKE_BOOST_VERSION "1.86.0" CACHE STRING "Boost version we want to use to ensure compatibility")
+set(RKE_SWIG_VERSION "4.2.1" CACHE STRING "Swig version we want to use to ensure compatibility")
+
 # set the QuantLib options the way we need them.
 # So, they do not need to be provided in the presets or as a cmake -D cache entry.
-set(QL_ENABLE_THREAD_SAFE_OBSERVER_PATTERN ON  CACHE BOOL "Needed for java's garbage collector" FORCE)
-set(QL_THROW_IN_CYCLES                     ON  CACHE BOOL ""                                    FORCE)
-set(QL_FASTER_LAZY_OBJECTS                 OFF CACHE BOOL ""                                    FORCE)
+set(QL_ENABLE_THREAD_SAFE_OBSERVER_PATTERN ON CACHE BOOL "Needed for java's garbage collector" FORCE)
+set(QL_THROW_IN_CYCLES ON CACHE BOOL "Throw an exception when a notification loop is detected")
+set(QL_FASTER_LAZY_OBJECTS OFF CACHE BOOL "Cause lazy objects to forward just the first notification instead of every one")
 
 # paths needed throughout the build
-cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_ROOT                   external/QuantLib)
+cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_ROOT external/QuantLib)
 
-cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_ROOT_DIR               ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/${QUANTLIB_ROOT})
-cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_GENERATED_HEADERS_DIR  ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/${QUANTLIB_ROOT})
+cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_ROOT_DIR ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/${QUANTLIB_ROOT})
+cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_GENERATED_HEADERS_DIR ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/${QUANTLIB_ROOT})
 
-cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_SWIG_ROOT_DIR          ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/external/QuantLib-SWIG/SWIG)
+cmake_path(SET QUANTLIB_SWIG_ROOT_DIR ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/external/QuantLib-SWIG/SWIG)
 
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_ROOT                       swig)
-cmake_path(SET QL_ENTRYPOINT_I_FILE            ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/${SWIG_ROOT}/QuantLibEntrypoint.i)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_ROOT swig)
+cmake_path(SET QL_ENTRYPOINT_I_FILE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/${SWIG_ROOT}/QuantLibEntrypoint.i)
 
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_CPP_DIR                    ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cpp)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_CPP_DIR ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cpp)
 
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_DIR                   ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/java)
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_SRC_DIR               ${SWIG_JAVA_DIR}/src/main)
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_PACKAGE_DIR           ${SWIG_JAVA_SRC_DIR}/java/org/quantlib)
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_RESOURCES_DIR         ${SWIG_JAVA_SRC_DIR}/resources)
-cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_TARGET_DIR           ${SWIG_JAVA_DIR}/target)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_DIR ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/java)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_SRC_DIR ${SWIG_JAVA_DIR}/src/main)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_PACKAGE_DIR ${SWIG_JAVA_SRC_DIR}/java/org/quantlib)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_RESOURCES_DIR ${SWIG_JAVA_SRC_DIR}/resources)
+cmake_path(SET SWIG_JAVA_TARGET_DIR ${SWIG_JAVA_DIR}/target)
 
 # Path for package-local cmake modules
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake)
@@ -58,7 +63,7 @@ if (${MSVC})
     set(CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY "MultiThreaded$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>")
 endif ()
 
-find_package(Boost 1.86.0 EXACT CONFIG REQUIRED)
+find_package(Boost ${RKE_BOOST_VERSION} EXACT CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
 add_subdirectory(${QUANTLIB_ROOT})
 add_subdirectory(${SWIG_ROOT})
diff --git a/swig/CMakeLists.txt b/swig/CMakeLists.txt
index 2594a88..86f7de8 100644
--- a/swig/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/swig/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
 
 find_package(JNI REQUIRED)
 
-find_package(SWIG 4.2.1 EXACT REQUIRED COMPONENTS java)
+find_package(SWIG ${RKE_SWIG_VERSION} EXACT REQUIRED COMPONENTS java)
 include(UseSWIG)
 
 set_property(SOURCE ${QL_ENTRYPOINT_I_FILE} PROPERTY CPLUSPLUS ON)