How to Create a Clang C Project Using vcpkg and CMake

Prerequisites

Make sure the following tools are installed on your system:

Required Tools

• CMake (>= 3.15)
• vcpkg
• Clang (or your preferred C compiler)

Windows Installation Tips

You can use Scoop or Winget to install dependencies:

Using Scoop

scoop install cmake llvm vcpkg

If scoop is not installed yet, follow instructions at: https://scoop.sh/

Using Winget

winget install Kitware.CMake
winget install LLVM.LLVM
winget install Microsoft.Vcpkg

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Step-by-Step Setup

Initialize a New vcpkg Project

make a project folder and move inside it.

mkdir vcpkg-project && cd vcpkg-project

Initialize the vcpkg project

vcpkg new --application

This will generate the basic folder structure for your application.

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Create CMakeLists.txt and CMakePresets.json

Use this preconfigured template:

Get the template files:

https://gist.github.com/marcuwynu23/ac99687142e176d6b024fe7d796907e6

Includes:

• Clang setup
• vcpkg integration
• Recursive source file gathering
• Clean and documented structure

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Configure the Project

Create src then create file .cpp or c

mkdir src && touch src\main.c # or src\main.cpp

you need also to update the CMakelists.txt in this part:

file(GLOB_RECURSE SOURCES "src/*.c")

This command will run CMake and automatically trigger vcpkg installation for any missing dependencies.

cmake --preset=default

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Build the Project

cmake --build build

adding dependencies

if you want to add dependency for example fmt you use this vcpkg add port <dependency>:

 vcpkg add port fmt

then you need to run

cmake --preset=default

then find in log this section:

The package fmt provides CMake targets:

then get the below part like this:

    find_package(fmt CONFIG REQUIRED)
    target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE fmt::fmt)

    # Or use the header-only version
    find_package(fmt CONFIG REQUIRED)
    target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE fmt::fmt-header-only)

then add it in CMakelists.txt in Linking External Libraries (via vcpkg) section:

after adding you can now run:

cmake --build build

how to remove dependencies

To remove depedency is by commentout or removing the part that you add in CMakelists.txt Linking External Libraries (via vcpkg) section:

then remove in vcpkg.json:

  "dependencies": [
    "fmt" // remove this
  ]

after that, run the cmake --preset=default and cmake --build build

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Done!

You now have a functioning Clang C project with modern CMake and vcpkg integration. 🎉