Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Vcpkg VS CPM

Compare Vcpkg VS CPM and see what are their differences

Vcpkg logo Vcpkg

C++ Library Manager for Windows, Linux, and macOS

CPM logo CPM

A C++ Package Manager based on CMake and Git.
  • Vcpkg Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-23
  • CPM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-23

Vcpkg features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    Vcpkg supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This ensures developers can maintain consistency across different environments.
  • Wide Range of Packages
    Vcpkg has a large collection of libraries and tools that can be easily integrated into projects, saving developers time in managing and building dependencies.
  • Ease of Use
    The tool is designed to be straightforward, simplifying the process of installing and managing libraries with simple commands.
  • Integration with CMake
    Vcpkg integrates well with CMake, one of the most popular build systems, which helps streamline the development process.
  • Continuous Updates
    Being backed by Microsoft, Vcpkg receives regular updates and improvements, ensuring it stays current with the latest library versions.

Possible disadvantages of Vcpkg

  • Windows-Centric Origins
    Although it has been extended to support other platforms, Vcpkg was initially designed for Windows, which might lead to some complications when used on other operating systems.
  • Overhead in Setup
    Initial setup and understanding of Vcpkg can be a bit cumbersome, especially for those unfamiliar with command-line tools.
  • Limited Non-C++ Support
    Vcpkg is primarily focused on C++ libraries, which limits its use for projects that rely heavily on non-C++ dependencies.
  • Dependency Conflicts
    Managing multiple packages and dependencies can occasionally lead to conflicts, especially if different projects require different versions of the same library.
  • Lack of Native IDE Integration
    While Vcpkg can be integrated into various development environments, it lacks deep, native integration with popular IDEs, which might require additional configuration.

CPM features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    CPM allows for easy management of C++ project dependencies, simplifying the integration and updating process.
  • CMake Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with CMake, a popular build system in the C++ community, ensuring compatibility with many existing projects.
  • Minimal Setup
    Requires minimal setup and configuration to get running, allowing developers to quickly adopt and use the tool without extensive learning.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, CPM allows for community-driven improvements and transparency regarding its functionality and enhancements.
  • Automatic Updates
    Handles updating dependencies automatically, reducing manual overhead for developers and ensuring that projects use the latest versions.

Possible disadvantages of CPM

  • Limited Popularity
    Compared to more well-known dependency managers, CPM has a smaller user base, which could lead to limited support and community-contributed resources.
  • Documentation
    The documentation may not be as comprehensive as more mature tools, potentially making it harder for new users to find help.
  • Customizability Limitations
    CPM may not provide the same level of customizability as other, more robust tools, which might be a limiting factor for complex projects.
  • Dependency Conflicts
    As with many dependency management systems, there might be potential for conflicts when resolving multiple dependencies.
  • C++ Specific
    Being tailored for C++, it is not applicable for projects that involve multiple programming languages, limiting its use to specific scenarios.

Vcpkg videos

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CPM videos

Hilltopads CPM Review

More videos:

  • Review - CPM Chapter 7 Test Review (Part 1)
  • Review - ExoClick CPM rate and review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Vcpkg and CPM)
Front End Package Manager
Package Manager
69 69%
31% 31
Windows Tools
67 67%
33% 33
Software Development
58 58%
42% 42

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Vcpkg seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 24 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Vcpkg mentions (24)

  • Xmake: A modern C/C++ build tool
    Re: C/C++ development: anybody using conda/pixi for dependency management? Here's an example of compiling a C++ SDL program using pixi and the SDL dependency from conda-forge [1]. Seems viable as a replacement for things like vckpg [2] which only builds from source. I'm still researching this but it seems like rattler [3] is the tool to use to build/publish packages. The supported repos are: prefix.dev's own... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ideas for project in C++ language use object-oriented programming
    Plenty of raw information should be available here, the actual vcpkg repo: https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why isn't there a Central C/C++ repository for distributions?
    Actually, there is: C++ Library Manager for Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Cleanup my dependency management with vcpkg
    The installation is described in the readme of vcpkg on github and is straightforward: clone the project, execute the installation script and you are ready to go! - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Transitioning from Java to C++
    You didn't ask about this, but I think its worth mentioning Conan and vcpkg. Of the two I have found vcpkg easier to work with, but both can be good solutions. Combining one of these package managers with CMake presets can make getting a project setup on a new machine almost trivial (great for CI or onboarding new devs). Source: over 2 years ago
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CPM mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CPM yet. Tracking of CPM recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Vcpkg and CPM, you can also consider the following products

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Chocolatey - The sane way to manage software on Windows.

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