Frate

Overview

Frate is a command-line tool that modernizes the C++ development experience by providing a unified workflow similar to Rust's Cargo, npm, or yarn. It simplifies project initialization, dependency management, and build configuration, eliminating the need to manually edit CMakeLists.txt files.

Project Status: Alpha (expect breaking changes)

The Problem

C++ has traditionally lacked a good default development experience. Setting up projects requires:

• Manual CMake configuration
• Complex dependency management
• Repetitive project setup tasks
• Fragmented tooling ecosystem

The struggle is real

Frate aims to fix this with sane defaults and a unified CLI.

Features

• Easy Project Initialization - Create new C++ projects with sensible defaults
• Dependency Management - Add, remove, and search for packages with simple commands
• Multi-Mode Builds - Support for debug, release, and custom build configurations
• Cross-Compilation - Build for different platforms and architectures
• Project Blueprints - Reusable project templates and scaffolding
• Remote Builds - Cloud-based compilation support
• Watch Mode - Auto-rebuild and run on file changes
• Decentralized Packages - No central authority required
• JSON Configuration - Extensible project configuration system
• Shell Completions - Available for popular shells

Quick Start

Basic Commands

# Start a new project (-d for defaults)
frate new

# Build your project (-j for multi-threading)
frate build

# Run the project
frate run

# Add a package (-l for latest version)
frate add p <package-name>

# Search for packages
frate search p <query>

# Update package index
frate update index

# Clean build artifacts (-c to clear cache)
frate clean

# Auto-build and run on file changes
frate watch

Technical Implementation

Architecture

Built With:

• C++ for core functionality
• CMake for build system integration
• Lua for extensibility
• JSON for configuration

Component Structure:

• Commands/ - CLI command implementations
• Generators/ - Project template generators
• Wizards/ - Interactive setup workflows
• Utils/ - Core utilities and helpers
• Lua/ - Lua scripting integration

Design Philosophy

1. Sane Defaults - Projects should work out of the box
2. Simple Commands - Complex operations made simple
3. Extensibility - Override and customize as needed
4. Decentralization - No single point of failure
5. Developer Experience - Prioritize ease of use

Why Frate?

For Individual Developers:

• Get started quickly without CMake expertise
• Focus on code, not build configuration
• Consistent project structure across projects

For Teams:

• Standardized development workflows
• Reproducible builds
• Simplified onboarding

For the C++ Community:

• Unified tooling ecosystem
• Easier package sharing
• Lower barrier to entry for new C++ developers

Popularity and Adoption

• 119 GitHub Stars - Most popular project in my portfolio
• Active Development - Regular commits and community engagement
• Discord Community - Active discussion and support channel
• Contributors - Growing open-source community

Roadmap

Current Features:

• Project initialization
• Build system integration
• Package management
• Watch mode
• Cross-compilation

Coming Soon:

• Legacy project conversion
• Template override system
• Enhanced package discovery

Installation

Installation process coming soon. Currently, build from source:

git clone https://github.com/frate-dev/frate.git
cd frate
# Build instructions in repository

Community

• GitHub: frate-dev/frate
• Discord: Join the community
• Issues: Report bugs and request features on GitHub

Impact

Frate represents a significant step toward modernizing C++ development. By providing a unified tool that handles project management, dependencies, and builds, it removes friction from the C++ development workflow and makes the language more accessible to newcomers.