vendoredlibraries

Vendored libraries, also known as vendoring or dependency embedding, is a software development practice where the source code of third-party libraries is copied directly into a project's own repository. Instead of relying on external package managers or shared system libraries, the project includes the exact version of the library it needs as part of its own codebase. This approach has several implications.

One primary benefit of vendoring is enhanced build reproducibility. By having the library's source code locally, the project ensures that it will always use the same version of the dependency, regardless of changes or deprecations in external repositories or package managers. This can significantly reduce the "it works on my machine" problem.

Another advantage is independence from external sources. If a third-party repository becomes unavailable or a package manager experiences issues, a vendored project can still be built and maintained. This also allows for easier modification of the library code if necessary, though this should be done cautiously.

However, vendoring also comes with drawbacks. It increases the size of the project's repository, potentially making cloning and fetching slower. It can also complicate dependency management, as updates to vendored libraries require manual intervention to pull in new versions and re-vendor them. Security updates also need careful tracking to ensure the embedded code remains patched. Furthermore, it can obscure the project's actual dependencies, making it harder for newcomers to understand what external components are being used. The decision to vendor a library is typically a trade-off between control and convenience.