Manage packages
To help you manage project dependencies and external libraries, CLion integrates with vcpkg, a package manager for C/C++.
Install vcpkg
Select Vcpkg tool window.
from the main menu to open theClick :
Specify the installation settings in the Add Vcpkg dialog:
The name and URL of your vcpkg repository.
The installation directory (or use the default value). If you already have vcpkg installed, provide the path to its location in this field.
Add vcpkg integration to existing CMake profiles
CLion uses CMake toolchain file to integrate with vcpkg. Select the CMake profiles you want the toolchain file to be linked to.
After the installation, you can find the toolchain file added to the selected profile's CMake options via the
CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE
variable.
Click Ok and wait for the installation to complete.
After installation, the list of packages appears in the middle pane. The right-hand pane shows details of the selected package.
Browse and install packages
To find a particular package, start typing its name in the search field:
Select the package and press Enter or click Install in the right-hand pane.
You can find the installed package in the Installed subtree:
Install/remove multiple packages
To install several packages at a time, select them in the tree and press Enter or click Install in the right-hand pane:
To remove multiple packages, select them in the tree and press Alt+Delete / ⌘⌫ or scroll down the list in the right-pand pane and click Delete:
Add packages to vcpkg.json
Packages can be automatically added to vcpkg.json in the project root, or you can add them manually.
Click on the toolbar and select vcpkg.json auto-change to enable CLion to update vcpkg.json automatically:
When vcpkg.json auto-change is disabled, you can still use the Actions menu in notifications that appear after package installation:
Start using a package
Packages should be added the CMakeLists.txt script.
Select Add packages to CMakeLists.txt in the notification menu:
Copy the suggested code into your CMakeLists.txt file. If required, change the target link name (which is
main
by default) to the one you want the packages to be linked to.
Update vcpkg and packages
Use the following tool window actions for update and upgrade:
Update All updates the vcpkg Git repository to the latest version and then checks it for available package updates.
Upgrade All updates the vcpkg Git repository to the latest version and then updates all installed packages to their latest versions.
Check for Updates (the menu) checks whether there is a newer version of the vcpkg Git repository.
Update Repository (the menu) checks the current version of the vcpkg Git repository for available package updates.
Upgrade Repository (the menu) checks the current version of the vcpkg Git repository for available package updates and installs them.
Update Vcpkg Repository (the menu) updates the vcpkg Git repository to the latest version.
Upgrade packages one by one
Packages that can be upgraded are indicated with a warning sign.
Select a package and click the Upgrade package icon in the right-hand pane:
Auto-update repositories
Click on the toolbar and select Auto-update repositories on IDE restart to allow CLion to check for repository updates on each IDE restart.
Use quick-fixes to add missing packages
If you include a header from a package that is not yet installed, compilation will fail with the file not found error. Click Fix next to the error message:
CLion will suggest to install the missing package:
In case there are multiple candidates for installation, open the list from the Fix menu:
Select the package to install in the dialog:
A similar quick-fix is provided for CMake scripts. You can find the Fix link in the CMake tool window: