6 posts tagged with "dependency management"

Let's face it, in the land of C++ development, package management and reproducible builds can feel like oil and water. Package managers promise lightning-fast builds with pre-built libraries, while reproducible builds preach control and consistency by rebuilding everything. But here's the thing: they're not sworn enemies.

Think of it this way.

Let's start with the basic build system. Imagine you're spending hours compiling your code. You throw more cores at the problem, and the build time shrinks – but there's a limit. Eventually, adding more cores won't magically make it compile any faster. Now imagine you don't build at all. Poof! Your build time is divided by zero, because it's not happening at all, it's just not a factor anymore. The most reproducible builds are the ones you don't have to repeat endlessly. That's where package management comes in, saving you from endless build marathons. Yet there's even more benefits for reproducibility as well.

This post will explore how these two seemingly opposing forces can actually work together to create a streamlined and efficient development workflow. Despite being a new idea, there is evidence of this already being used along with potential new opportunities for future development in this space.

The most relevant problems for C++ developers are package management, setting up CI/CD pipelines, and maintaining build scripts. Talking to developers and builds teams the cause of that frustration is the lack of interoperability between build systems.

The Common Package Specification (CPS) aims to revolutionize C++ development by standardizing how dependencies are described. While the core concept holds promise, specific aspects raise questions about its practicality within the C++ ecosystem.

The ever-evolving world of C++ development unlocks incredible possibilities, but one persistent challenge haunts programmers: dependency management. While libraries often steal the spotlight, the true scope of dependencies extends far beyond. It encompasses the entire toolchain ecosystem, from the compilers and operating systems used to craft your code for the operating systems where it ultimately executes on.

Imagine building a spacecraft. While the engine is undeniably crucial, neglecting the guidance system, navigation tools, and communication equipment would be disastrous. Similarly, focusing solely on libraries paints an incomplete picture. Every software tool you utilize, from the ground up, contributes to the final product's functionality, stability, and maintainability.

This guide delves into the intricate tooling and dependencies, exploring the various categories, offering effective management strategies, and practical examples across diverse project types. By venturing beyond the surface level of libraries, we equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the dependency landscape with confidence and efficiency, ensuring your C++ projects reach their full potential.

C++ developers often approach DevOps with a reasonable degree of skepticism, and it's not without reason. Their top five challenges revolve around build scripts, dependency management, and setting up CI pipelines—areas traditionally associated with DevOps responsibilities. Michael Xymitoulias articulated this sentiment well in a recent LinkedIn post writing:

Right now, it feels that C++ developers have to deal with way more than just writing business logic code. [...] Allowing devs to focus more on coding rather than trying to solve problems of the ecosystem would probably be liberating

Xymitoulias suggestion that allowing developers to focus more on coding, rather than grappling with ecosystem problems, would be liberating. He's not alone, Bill Hoffman, CTO behind CMake supports this ideal of simplifying the developer workflows, something we've seen put in place with recent improvements to the popular build system.

While building in C++ certainly comes with its challenges, streamlining this process is our collective goal. So, let's delve into the core focus as it relates to C++ and dispel some common misconceptions.

C++'s journey with dependency management has seen numerous transformations. Early years were marked by manual library integration and complex build scripts, presenting significant challenges. However, the landscape has since evolved, offering an array of sophisticated package managers designed to streamline workflows but most of all reduce the burden on developers.

Join in and delve into the strengths and weaknesses of these diverse solutions, empowering you to make informed choices and conquer the challenge of dependency management in your C++ endeavors.

In the ever-evolving landscape of C++ development, challenges abound, but the journey to overcome them has a powerful ally: DevOps. The annual ISO committee's survey paints a vivid picture of the hurdles faced by C++ developers, but within these challenges lie opportunities for transformation through DevOps principles and cutting-edge technologies like Artifact Management, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and Platforms as a Service (PaaS).

Unveiling the Challenges​

The 2023 ISOCPP Survey echoes the sentiments of C++ developers grappling with key issues:

1. Managing libraries my application depends on: 83%
2. Build times: 81%
3. Setting up a continuous integration pipeline from scratch: 72%
4. Managing CMake projects: 67% (MakeFiles MSBuild)
5. Setting up a development environment from scratch: 67%