vcpkg/docs/users/host-dependencies.md
nicole mazzuca fe2a6bb789
[host dependencies] add support in the scripts (#16627)
This contains all the docs and scripts changes from #16479,
without any of the ports changes, for easier CR
2021-03-10 15:33:16 -08:00

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# Host Dependencies
Tools used at build time by other ports to generate code or implement a custom build system can be packaged inside vcpkg.
## Consuming
When consuming a port as a tool, you must set the dependency's `"host"` field to true. For example:
```json
{
"name": "contoso-http-library",
"version-string": "1.0.0",
"description": "Contoso's http runtime library",
"dependencies": [
"contoso-core-library",
{
"name": "contoso-code-generator",
"host": true
},
{
"name": "contoso-build-system",
"host": true
}
]
}
```
In this case, the `contoso-code-generator` and `contoso-build-system` (including any transitive dependencies) will be built and installed for the host triplet before `contoso-http-library` is built.
>Note: Consumers must use `vcpkg.json` instead of `CONTROL` as their metadata format. You can easily convert an existing `CONTROL` file using `vcpkg format-manifest /path/to/CONTROL`.
Then, within the portfile of the consumer (`contoso-http-library` in the example), the CMake variable `CURRENT_HOST_INSTALLED_DIR` will be defined to `installed/<host-triplet>` and should be used to locate any required assets. In the example, `contoso-code-generator` might have installed `tools/contoso-code-generator/ccg.exe` which the consumer would add to its local path via
```cmake
# ports/contoso-http-library/portfile.cmake
vcpkg_add_to_path(${CURRENT_HOST_INSTALLED_DIR}/tools/contoso-code-generator)
```
## Specifying the Host Triplet
The default host triplets are chosen based on the host architecture and operating system, for example `x64-windows`, `x64-linux`, or `x64-osx`. They can be overridden via:
1. In CMake-based manifest mode, calling `set(VCPKG_HOST_TRIPLET "<triplet>" CACHE STRING "")` before the first `project()` directive
2. In MSBuild-based manifest mode, setting the `VcpkgHostTriplet` property
3. On the command line, via the flag `--host-triplet=...`
4. The `VCPKG_DEFAULT_HOST_TRIPLET` environment variable
## Producing
Producing a tool has no special requirements; tools should be authored as a standard port, following all the normal policies and practices. Notably, they should build against `TARGET_TRIPLET`, not `HOST_TRIPLET` within the context of their portfile.
Sometimes, it can be useful to determine whether the current context is a cross-compiling one or not. This should be done by comparing the strings `TARGET_TRIPLET` and `HOST_TRIPLET`. For example:
```cmake
string(COMPARE EQUAL "${TARGET_TRIPLET}" "${HOST_TRIPLET}" I_AM_NOT_CROSSCOMPILING)
if(TARGET_TRIPLET STREQUAL HOST_TRIPLET)
# This is a native build
else()
# This is a cross build
endif()
```