# vcpkg_from_github The latest version of this document lives in the [vcpkg repo](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/docs/maintainers/vcpkg_from_github.md). Download and extract a project from GitHub. Enables support for `install --head`. ## Usage: ```cmake vcpkg_from_github( OUT_SOURCE_PATH REPO [REF ] [SHA512 <45d0d7f8cc350...>] [HEAD_REF ] [PATCHES ...] [GITHUB_HOST ] [AUTHORIZATION_TOKEN <${SECRET_FROM_FILE}>] [FILE_DISAMBIGUATOR ] ) ``` ## Parameters: ### OUT_SOURCE_PATH Specifies the out-variable that will contain the extracted location. This should be set to `SOURCE_PATH` by convention. ### REPO The organization or user and repository on GitHub. ### REF A stable git commit-ish (ideally a tag or commit) that will not change contents. **This should not be a branch.** For repositories without official releases, this can be set to the full commit id of the current latest master. If `REF` is specified, `SHA512` must also be specified. ### SHA512 The SHA512 hash that should match the archive (https://github.com/${REPO}/archive/${REF}.tar.gz). This is most easily determined by first setting it to `1`, then trying to build the port. The error message will contain the full hash, which can be copied back into the portfile. ### HEAD_REF The unstable git commit-ish (ideally a branch) to pull for `--head` builds. For most projects, this should be `master`. The chosen branch should be one that is expected to be always buildable on all supported platforms. ### PATCHES A list of patches to be applied to the extracted sources. Relative paths are based on the port directory. ### GITHUB_HOST A replacement host for enterprise GitHub instances. This field should contain the scheme, host, and port of the desired URL without a trailing slash. ### AUTHORIZATION_TOKEN A token to be passed via the Authorization HTTP header as "token ${AUTHORIZATION_TOKEN}". ### FILE_DISAMBIGUATOR A token to uniquely identify the resulting filename if the SHA512 changes even though a git ref does not, to avoid stepping on the same file name. ## Notes: At least one of `REF` and `HEAD_REF` must be specified, however it is preferable for both to be present. This exports the `VCPKG_HEAD_VERSION` variable during head builds. ## Examples: * [cpprestsdk](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/ports/cpprestsdk/portfile.cmake) * [ms-gsl](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/ports/ms-gsl/portfile.cmake) * [beast](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/ports/beast/portfile.cmake) ## Source [scripts/cmake/vcpkg\_from\_github.cmake](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_from_github.cmake)