vcpkg

vcpkg is an open-source package manager for C and C++ libraries, developed by Microsoft to simplify acquiring, building, and managing dependencies across Windows, Linux, and macOS. It provides a centralized collection of ported libraries and a uniform interface for installing and integrating them into projects. The project is maintained by Microsoft along with community contributors and is distributed under an open-source license.

vcpkg operates on a port-based system. Each library is described by a port, typically containing a portfile.cmake (and occasionally a vcpkg.json) that explains how to fetch, configure, build, and install the library. Ports can be built from source or consumed from prebuilt binaries where available. vcpkg uses triplets to define target architectures and linkage types, such as x64-windows, x86-windows, x64-linux, and x64-osx, with custom triplets possible for additional configurations.

Key features include CMake and IDE integration, manifest-based project support, and cross-platform consistency. Integration with CMake is provided via a toolchain file that enables automatic discovery of libraries, while manifest mode allows projects to declare dependencies in a vcpkg.json file and have vcpkg resolve them with a single command.

Typical workflow involves bootstrapping the vcpkg executable, installing libraries with commands like vcpkg install library, and enabling project integration with vcpkg integrate install. The manifest workflow enables reproducible builds by recording dependencies in the project.

History and status: vcpkg originated as a Microsoft project and was released as open source on GitHub, where it has grown into a widely used tool for C/C++ development. It remains actively maintained with ongoing contributions from both Microsoft and the community, while libraries and triplets continue to evolve.