C++ Package Managers: The Ultimate Roundup | Modern C++ DevOps
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Struggling with C++ dependencies and intricate build scripts? The landscape of C++ package managers has evolved significantly, offering powerful tools to streamline your workflow. Dive deeper in this comprehensive roundup! Explore popular options like vcpkg, Conan, Spack, and others, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. Emerging contenders discover innovative tools like Xrepo and Tipi.Build. Learn how to select the best package manager for your specific project needs.
  • clyne
    3·
    9 months ago

    Honestly, I would argue that git submodule should count as a package manager. I simply list out the repos I want to pull in and update them as needed.

    I can see the usability of this depending on the application though. My work is primarily in embedded; I only ever need to pull in a handful of small libraries.

    • lysdexic@programming.devOPMEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      Honestly, I would argue that git submodule should count as a package manager. I simply list out the repos I want to pull in and update them as needed.

      I see your point, but I think that when developers refer to package managers, implicitly that means accessing standalone precompiled binaries that are ready to just be integrated into a project.

      With git submodules, unless they are used to track standalone projects or even precompiled binaries, you still have to resolve their dependencies, which is the responsibility of a package manager and the main reason they are used.

  • lysdexic@programming.devOPMEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    I think that this article is missing the most obvious and perhaps most used package manager for C and C++ projects: Linux distro’s package repositories.

    It should be stressed that package managers are a requirement for Windows and, to a far lesser degree, macOS. On any Linux distro, you’d just apt install <dependency>-dev and you’d be mostly set. It’s mainly Windows development that draws this need to install packages to be able to develop anything.