Open article page · Last modified February 19, 2026

(work in progress…)

Due to the faster computation, C++ is still (2026) the best choice for real-time rendering and Python is far behind in this real-time performance race. C++ is a powerful language with different excellent features, some are the latest version-dependent as well. Nonetheless, over the years, I have noticed, some of the commonly used C++ features used in graphics rendering are, Pointer and References (the smart pointer might be helpful to reduce data leak), STL, Type Casting, Vecot and Matrix Operations, etc. These are some of the frequently used features.

Someone working (or interested working in Graphics Rendering) may already have profound knowledge of the language. Besides, I might recommend some of the excellent learning resources, viz. Learncpp, CPP Reference, MS C++ documentation, MS C++ Blog, CppCoreGuidelines, cpp different versions’ features cheatsheets, isocpp, cppcon, helped me understanding the language. However, learning by actually coding is the best way in my opinion. There are several git projects for C++, e.g., Bjarne Stroustrup’s Github repository, 30-seconds-of-cpp, cppbestpractices, project-based-learning.

Naming convention for a C++ project may vary company to company, even among different developers’ team. The google C++ style guide is a popular choice. Besides, someone can check C++ Best Practice, similar to Boost Style and C++ Coding standard. The Hungarian Notation was once a popular choice as well.

Documentation is essential for understanding the gist of the code in the quickest possible time. Unfortunately, in my experience, this is the part where the development team often pay the least attention. Doxygen is being used for long time for documentation purposes.

A robust package manager system is important for developers to maintain the standard and open-source libraries, especially to maintain the appropriate version. Unlike Linux, Microsoft OS does not have a central package management system. However, VCPKG does the job, and suitable with CMake. It is cross platform. Other than VCPKG, there are some other package manager, e.g., Conan, Hunter also popular.

The success of graphics rendering remains in efficiently debug and profiling, both CPU and GPU side. Other than someone using the Visual Studio, or Visual Studio Code, or any other IDE, there are a bunch of online compilers, e.g., Compiler Explorer, online gdb, C++ Shell, wandbox, Coliru useful sometime. For online benchmark, you can check quick-bench, perfbench, buildbench, CPP Insights- what compiler sees. Moreover, these off-line tools code analyzer: lizard 1.17.9-lizard 1.17.9, coverage code: Gcov is a source code coverage analysis and statement-by-statement profiling tool are also handy. Besides, for the GPU side profiling there is a whole bunch of tools, e.g., PIX, NVidia Nsights, etc (will write an in-depth article on this topic in future)

Linux Specific

Resources

• Windows C++ Ecosystem

Future of C++

Probably, Rust (👍🏽), Lua, Nim, Zig, C3, Golang/Go, Dart, Carbon could be name as the Successors of C++ language.

Open article page · Last modified October 23, 2025

(work in progress…)

Unlike Linux, the Microsoft Operating System (OS) does not have a central library controller. The vcpkg can partially do the job, but sometimes with a bit extra tuning. Besides, there are several package manager exists. One popular alternative option is the Conan. However, here are some instructions on vcpkg, could be helpful for the beginners.

MS-vcpkg

vcpkg has two operation modes: classic and manifest. During the classic mode, installs packages globally in a shared installed directory (e.g., C:\vcpkg\installed\x64-windows), managed by explicit vcpkg install commands, like traditional system package managers (apt, brew) but local to the vcpkg root, while manifest mode uses a project-specific vcpkg.json file for declarative dependency management, installing packages into a project-local vcpkg_installed folder, offering better version control and project isolation. Moreover, the manifest mode is often recommended for most of the new projects due to its explicit dependency declaration and easier reproducibility, whereas classic mode suits simpler, shared library setup.

Clone and Setting

• Clone the repository in any suitable directory (often prefer C:/ drive). Therefore, for github

    cd C:\
    git clone --recursive https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.git
  

• Then Environment Variables >> System Variables >> path >> new >> (add) C:\vcpkg However, I found no visible effect whether set it or not.

Install vcpkg

• run .\bootstrap-vcpkg.bat
  • Windows Power Shell
  • .\vcpkg integrate install (!important: this will integrate with current visual studio)
  • Save a copy of the CMake Instruction for future use for me:
    • CMake projects should use: "-DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=C:/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake"

Search, Install, and Integration

• Search .\vcpkg.exe search library_name (e.g., opencv)
• Install .\vcpkg.exe install library_name:x64-windows (:x64-windows for x64 machine, otherwise x86 is default). This might take a while!.
• Someone can find the downloaded library under installed folder, e.g., C:\vcpkg\installed, also under packages folder.

• Also, .\vcpkg.exe list will return all installed libraries

• After installing the library, run .\vcpkg.exe integrate install to integrate with visual studio.
  • This integrate is important if someone want to access files easily under C:\vcpkg\installed\x64-windows\include directory

Uninstalling packages

• to uninstall particular package .\vcpkg.exe remove package_name:x64-windows
• sometimes it may need to use --recurse command if other packages are depend on that packages, e.g., .\vcpkg.exe --recurse remove python3:x64-windows
• to uninstall all packages .\vcpkg.exe remove *:x64-windows
• Against .\vcpkg.exe integrate -> vcpkg is deleted. To remove vcpkg integrate remove need to call.

Some packages like boost, and qt5 are “meta-packages”. This means that these packages themselves are empty, and what they do is depend on other packages to install them all together as a convenience (not clear).

Using in C++ (tried on Visual Studio 2022) project

• Create an empty project
• Check what debug machine it is x86/x64
• Simply use #include<start_the_library_name>, the library will appear
• If not, then have to do it a bit manually (if there is any other solution, I will add later)
  • type .\vcpkg.exe integrate project in the power shell and follow the instruction. Generally the instruction is:
  • With a project open, go to Tools->NuGet Package Manager->Package Manager Console and paste: Install-Package vcpkg.C.vcpkg -Source "C:\vcpkg\scripts\buildsystems"

vcpkg to Cmake

• How to add to CMake command line -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=C:/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake?

    cmake_minimum_required (VERSION x.x)
    set(CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE "C:/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake")
    project (project_name)
    file (GLOB_REUSE fileCollection "Source/*.h"
                                   "Source/*.cpp"
                                              )

    find_package(assimp CONFIG REQUIRED)
    add_executable (project_name ${fileCollection})
    #find_package can also be here
    target_link_libraries(project_name PRIVATE assimp::assimp)

Resources

• Youtube crash course
• vcpkg github
• ms-vcpkg documentation

Open article page · Last modified August 10, 2025

Formatting Booted USB (Windows), if normal formatting not work

cmd -> type "diskpart"
list disk
select disk <number>
clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick // format fs=fat32 quick
//optional step
assign letter=h //any letter you want to
exit

Boot USB Flash drive

• Check the windows BIOS mode, run>> msinfo32>> BIOS Mode
  • If target system is UEFI then partition scheme GPT
  • If target system is BIOS/ CSM/Lagacy then partition scheme MBR 👍🏼 selecting MBR is better
• Download rufus to make USB stick bootable and run as Administrator
  • if rufus don’t see the .iso file, copy the .iso to C: drive in a folder, e.g., iso

1.a) Advanced Way Dual Boot

• Follow single/dual boot this tutorial until 6.43m -> select something else

1. b) Generic Way (~Making USB Bootable~)

• Read this tutorial
• recommended software- balenaetcher
• How to
  1. install ubuntu ISO and install balenaetcher software (minimum 4GB space on USB stick)
  2. flash from file -> select the ISO
  3. select target -> select the usb
  4. Flash

Boot Key, Varies on Motherboard ~Booting (Ubuntu) on Windows OS~

• Need to accessed the UEFI menu. Varies from motherboard to motherboard, but normally:
  • Enter for boot menu -> disable secure booting
  • on Fn before pressing F12
  • even the boot key could be del/esc
• (for dual boot on single hard disk) Installation type -> something else -> select drive -> use as: Ext4 journaling file system -> Mount point: select ` ` -> Device for boot loader installation -> Windows Boot Manager

• double click on the free space, select file systems Ext4 and mount point: \

• most important: In dual boot mode, select the Device for boot loader installation: /dev/sda2 Windows Boot Manager

• If needed, follow this video if necessary

1.c) Best fit with old motherboard for this tutorial

Open article page · Last modified July 22, 2025

Integration with Visual Studio Code and OpenAI (my choice)

• Overleaf
  • Install Overleaf Worshop from Visual Studio Code Extension, more on the Overleaf Workshop github
  • Inspect » Network » Cookie or, as alternative set-cookie (copy it)
  • Open Overleaf Workshop » Login to Server » Login with Cookies » Paste the Cookie
• Install Write Assist AI
  • go to https://platform.openai.com/api-keys and generate a new secret keyand copy it
  • In Visual Studio Code, press Ctrl + Shift+ P to open the Command Palette
  • Search Write Assist AI: Set OpenAI API Key
  • Paste the secrete key
• Add New Server » Network » Referer (copy) »
• Big thanks to Thiemo Fetzer’s youtube tutorial

Integration with Local Text Editor and GitHub

• Menu » GitHub (connect with github account)
• Follow standard github procedure, you can commit, push, pull to the remote repository.
• Edit with the LaTeX IDEs: e.g., TexStudio, Texmaker, etc.
• One create a commit, Menu » GitHub» (pull it to the overleaf)

Other (faster) Options

Alternatives of Overleaf

Open article page · Last modified August 28, 2021

GitHub Pages

• GitHub allows only one free hosting static page against per github account
• Developers can develop their page with HTML, CSS, Javascript, or any other languages if like.
• Important: for this your github account name, and newly created repository name must me the same. For example, if your github account is sample-git, then your page name must be sample-git.github.io, which later will generate url https://sample-git.github.io
• You can not push files to your repository, upload templates, or develop manually.
• There are many awesome repositories for templates, for instance, jekyllthemes.

Google Indexing

• Adding GitHub Page to google indexing (see the image)
  • now go to the https://search.google.com/search-console/welcome?hl=en&utm_source=wmx&utm_medium=deprecation-pane&utm_content=home
  • take the url prefix for verification (second option)
  • paste your url, you will have a google_verification.html code
  • simply upload it to your github main repository
  • wait a bit, because the github takes some time, then click on the verify in google search console.
• go to the https://developers.google.com/search
• Google Analytics: https://analytics.google.com/