Template Maker

A powerful CLI tool for generating CMake + Conan project templates for C++ applications and libraries.

Overview

Template Maker automates the creation of well-structured C++ projects with modern build systems. It generates complete project scaffolding including CMake configuration, Conan dependency management, and proper directory structure for both applications and libraries.

Key Features

• 🚀 Quick Setup: Generate complete C++ project structure in seconds
• 📦 Conan Integration: Built-in support for modern C++ dependency management
• 🏗️ CMake Ready: Pre-configured CMake files for immediate development
• 📁 Dual Modes: Support for both application and library project types
• 🧪 Test Framework: Includes test structure and configuration
• ⚡ Zero Configuration: Works out of the box with sensible defaults

Installation

From PyPI (Recommended)

pip install template-maker

From Source

pip install git+https://github.com/shajeen/template-maker.git

Verify Installation

template-maker --help

Usage

Template Maker requires two arguments:

• --name: Your project name
• --ptype: Project type (0 for application, 1 for library)

Quick Start

Create a C++ Application

template-maker --name="my_awesome_app" --ptype=0

This generates:

out/my_awesome_app/
├── CMakeLists.txt
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
├── conanfile.txt
└── src/
    └── main.cpp

Create a C++ Library

template-maker --name="my_awesome_lib" --ptype=1

This generates:

out/my_awesome_lib/
├── CMakeLists.txt
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
├── app/                    # Example application
│   ├── CMakeLists.txt
│   └── src/
│       └── main.cpp
├── lib/                    # Library source
│   ├── CMakeLists.txt
│   ├── conanfile.py
│   ├── include/
│   │   └── main.h
│   └── src/
│       └── main.cpp
└── test/                   # Test framework
    ├── CMakeLists.txt
    ├── conanfile.txt
    └── src/
        └── main.cpp

Project Types

Type	Value	Description
Application	0	Standalone executable project
Library	1	Reusable library with tests and example app

Building Generated Projects

After generation, navigate to the output directory and build:

cd out/your_project_name
mkdir build && cd build
conan install .. --build=missing
cmake ..
cmake --build .

Requirements

• Python 3.6+
• Git (for installation from source)

Examples

Application Project Structure

The generated application includes:

• Modern CMake configuration
• Conan dependency management
• Source code organization
• Build scripts ready for immediate use

Library Project Structure

The generated library includes:

• Separate lib, app, and test directories
• Header/source separation
• Conan package configuration
• Example application demonstrating library usage
• Test framework setup

Roadmap

• Support for additional build systems (Meson, Bazel)
• Template customization options
• Integration with popular C++ frameworks
• Docker support
• CI/CD template generation

See the open issues for a list of proposed features and known issues.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:

1. Report Issues: Found a bug? Create an issue
2. Suggest Features: Have an idea? Request a feature
3. Submit Code:
   • Fork the repository
   • Create a feature branch
   • Make your changes with tests
   • Submit a pull request

Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed contribution guidelines.

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.

Support

• 📧 Email: shajeenahmed@gmail.com
• 🐦 Twitter: @shajeenahamed
• 🐛 Issues: GitHub Issues
• 📖 Documentation: Project Wiki

Acknowledgments

• The C++ community for continuous innovation
• Conan team for excellent package management
• CMake developers for the robust build system