Great Open Source C++ Libraries
I’m making a serious effort to bring my C++ skills up to date. It’s not that I don’t like Java anymore, I think it is great, and I am certain I will be doing Java related projects for a long time. It’s just that I want to broaden my scope so that I can acquire a more interesting range of customer projects.
I’m mostly getting up to speed with more advanced use of generic programming, templates and open source libraries that I’ve ignored for too long.
The C++ ecosystem is by far not so big as the Java world. But there are certainly some really nice and powerful open source libraries out there. Here are just a few that I use:
- Boost - The swiss army knife of C++ libraries. I’ve been using Boost for a long time already in many different projects. It’s no wonder that things like Boost.Function or Smart Pointers are being incorporated in the new C++ standard library.
- Adobe Source Libraries - Adobe has opened up an interesting collection of C++ goodness that works well together with Boost. From little gems like a collection of algorithms to more complex libraries like a sophisticated layout engine called Eve and the Generic Image Library. And there is much more.
- ASIO - ASIO is a very powerful, yet simple, cross platform networking library that also integrates very well with Boost. So well that it will actually be included in the next Boost release and is being considered to be included in a future standard C++ library. ASIO has been my preferred library for networking projects for a long time. From high performance VOIP proxies to web services that need to be Crazy Fast. Good stuff.
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