C++ CLI Project Template

A project template for cross-platform console/CLI applications in C++ using CLI11 for command-line parsing and vcpkg for dependencies.

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Features

• CLI11 — command-line parsing: options, flags, --help, --version, validation
• vcpkg — manifest-mode dependencies; no global install required
• CMake — one preset (default); build Debug or Release from the same tree
• fmt — formatted output (included)

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Prerequisites

• C++17-capable compiler (e.g. MSVC 2019+, GCC 9+, Clang 10+)
• CMake 3.10 or newer
• vcpkg — install and set VCPKG_ROOT to your vcpkg directory

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Quick start

1. Configure (uses VCPKG_ROOT for the vcpkg toolchain):

cmake --preset default

2. Build (choose Debug or Release):

# Debug
cmake --build build --config Debug

# Release
cmake --build build --config Release

3. Run

• Windows: .\build\Release\app.exe or .\build\Debug\app.exe
• Linux/macOS: ./build/app (path may include Release or Debug depending on generator)

Example:

.\build\Release\app.exe --help
.\build\Release\app.exe --name "User" --verbose
.\build\Release\app.exe --version

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Project structure

├── CMakeLists.txt      # Build definition, vcpkg toolchain, CLI11 + fmt
├── CMakePresets.json   # Configure preset (default → build/)
├── vcpkg.json          # Dependencies: cli11, fmt
├── vcpkg-configuration.json
├── README.md
└── src/
    └── main.cpp        # Entry point (CLI11 app)

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Included CLI example

The sample app in src/main.cpp uses CLI11 and supports:

• -n,--name — name to greet (default: World)
• -v,--verbose — verbose output
• -V,--version — show version
• -h,--help — show help (auto-generated by CLI11)

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Using this as a template

1. Clone or copy this repository.
2. Add options/flags in main.cpp with app.add_option(), app.add_flag(), or subcommands with app.add_subcommand(). See CLI11 documentation.
3. Add dependencies in vcpkg.json and CMakeLists.txt as needed.
4. Add source files under src/; they are picked up automatically via file(GLOB ...).

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Build reference

Goal	Command
Configure	cmake --preset default
Build Debug	cmake --build build --config Debug
Build Release	cmake --build build --config Release
Clean	Delete the build/ directory and run configure again.

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Related

• CLI11 — command line parser for C++11+
• vcpkg documentation — adding ports, triplets, manifest mode.

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License

Use this template for any purpose. CLI11 is BSD-3-Clause; fmt and other vcpkg ports have their own licenses.