Why I Started Building Vix.cpp

Gaspard Kirira — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:35:14 +0000

Why I Started Building Vix.cpp

C++ is one of the most powerful programming languages in the world.

It powers databases, browsers, operating systems, game engines, financial systems, and countless performance-critical applications.

Yet many developers still struggle with the same problems:

Project setup is often more complicated than writing code.
Dependency management is fragmented.
Build workflows vary from project to project.
New developers face a steep learning curve before they can build real applications.

After working on multiple C++ projects, I kept running into the same question:

Why is it easier to start a project in many modern languages than in C++?

That question eventually led me to start building Vix.cpp.

What is Vix.cpp?

Vix.cpp is a modern C++ runtime and developer toolkit.

The goal is not to replace C++.

The goal is to make building applications in C++ simpler, faster, and more productive.

With Vix.cpp, developers get a unified workflow for:

Creating projects
Managing dependencies
Running applications
Building releases
Running tests
Formatting code
Packaging software

All while staying fully compatible with the existing C++ ecosystem.

Why another tool?

Most C++ developers spend a significant amount of time dealing with infrastructure around their code.

Build configuration.
Dependency setup.
Project structure.
Tool integration.

These things are important, but they should not slow down application development.

Vix.cpp aims to reduce that friction.

Instead of spending time wiring tools together, developers can focus on building software.

The philosophy behind Vix.cpp

Several ideas guide the project:

Keep C++ native

Vix.cpp does not try to invent a new language.

Developers still write standard C++.

Make the common path simple

Many tasks should require a single command instead of multiple configuration steps.

Stay compatible

Existing compilers, libraries, and tooling should continue to work.

Improve developer experience

Good tooling helps developers move faster without sacrificing control.

Current status

Vix.cpp already includes:

A modern CLI workflow
Package management
Project templates
Build automation
Testing workflows
Formatting tools
JSON support
Database tooling
REPL support
AI tooling experiments

The project continues to evolve every week.

Looking forward

Vix.cpp is still early in its journey.
There is a lot left to build.
But the vision remains simple:

Make C++ development more accessible, productive, and enjoyable while keeping the power and performance that make C++ unique.

If that sounds interesting to you, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

GitHub:
https://github.com/vixcpp/vix

Documentation:
https://docs.vixcpp.com

DEV Community: Gaspard Kirira

Why I Started Building Vix.cpp

Why I Started Building Vix.cpp

What is Vix.cpp?

Why another tool?

The philosophy behind Vix.cpp

Keep C++ native

Make the common path simple

Stay compatible

Improve developer experience

Current status

Looking forward