rentc

rentc is a command-line utility designed to manage software dependencies and project environments. It functions as a lightweight alternative to more complex package managers, focusing on simplicity and ease of use for C and C++ projects. The core concept behind rentc is the ability to define project dependencies within a simple configuration file, often named "rent.toml" or similar. This file specifies the required libraries or other software components along with their desired versions.

When a user runs the rentc command within a project directory, it reads the configuration file. It then attempts to locate, download, and integrate the specified dependencies into the project's build system or development environment. This process typically involves fetching source code from remote repositories or pre-compiled binaries from a central cache. rentc aims to automate the often tedious task of dependency management, ensuring that a project has all the necessary components to compile and run correctly.

One of the key features of rentc is its focus on reproducibility. By specifying exact versions in the configuration, rentc helps ensure that different developers working on the same project, or the same developer at different times, will use the identical set of dependencies. This reduces the likelihood of "it works on my machine" issues. The tool is designed to be non-intrusive, often working by creating isolated environments or linking against dependencies without modifying the system-wide installation of libraries. Its simplicity makes it a suitable choice for smaller projects or for developers who prefer a more direct approach to dependency handling.