2 posts tagged with "software engineering"

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.