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So since C++ package managers are becoming a thing and I want an easy way to build cmake (with gui) from a git checkout without having to think about how to provide dependencies like Qt. I especially don't want to use cmake builtin deps if possible.

One way to that is using vcpkg in manifest mode as shown in !5821 (closed)

• vcpkg is added as a submodule
• a vcpkg.json is added to define (features/) dependencies
• vcpkg.cmake from the submodule is provided as a cmake toolchain or included within a custom cmake toolchain -> configure will invoke vcpkg in manifest mode and install the required deps into the build folder /vcpkg_installed -> find_package 'should' simply work for external deps.

Bonus:

• Add a cmake preset so that building cmake becomes very simple. Could also be used in combination with manifest features to define different types of cmake builds.

Notes:

• adding vcpkg as a submodule is optional. The benefits are that it fixes the vcpkg version together with the rest and gives a way to define the toolchain in a presets. Versioning in manifest mode could be used instead (https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/take-control-of-your-vcpkg-dependencies-with-versioning-support/)

The main question is: Is there any interest to have something like that? (The answer for me is yes because it made it trivial to setup VS Code for cmake but others might have a different opinion.)