Case for a Standardized Package Description Format for External C++ Libraries

Explore a comprehensive conference talk on the need for a standardized package description format for external C++ libraries. Delve into the challenges of consuming third-party libraries, the impact of build times on C++ development, and the historical context of build system solutions. Examine the limitations of existing tools like Pkg-Config and Libtool, and discuss the potential for isolating implementation details of build systems. Investigate the role of C++ modules in this landscape and consider the properties a package definition format should possess to achieve isolation between build systems and package managers. Gain insights from Luis Caro Campos, an Electronics and Computer Engineer, on enabling software development at scale and addressing the problems faced by the C++ community.

Introduction
Survey Results
What does this mean
Header only libraries
Dependencies
Modern C Make
Targets
Fine Logic
Boost
Encapsulation
Binary Packages
Config Files
Scripting Language
Open Issue
Lip Tool
Package Config
Package Config Limitations
Where We Are Today
What is a Library
The Way Forward
Common Package Specification
Litman
Package Manager
Package Configuration Files
Package Independency Manager
Package Config Files
Package Description Files
Repository Maintenance
Summary
Questions
Where to start
Is it extensible
Is it transitive
Why didnt standard proposals progress further
Supporting multiple languages
Collaboration