Shards
6.8#36 in package managersFree planFree planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitShards vs vcpkg
What both publish
| Fact | Shards | vcpkg |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Shards is Crystal’s dependency manager for managing dependencies for Crystal projects and libraries. | vcpkg is a C/C++ package manager for acquiring and managing libraries. |
| Support | The project directs users to its community forum and Discord for help. | The project lists documentation, a development-team support contact, and community channels including Discord and Slack. |
| Supported platforms | The install page lists Linux, macOS, and Windows, and lists Android installation through community-maintained Termux packages. | Windows,macOS,Linux,Android,iOS |
Shards plans
- Crystal / ShardsFree
vcpkg plans
- FreeFree
Pick Shards if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.
Pick vcpkg if…
vcpkg suits developers managing C or C++ dependencies across supported platforms, especially projects that need version constraints, caching, or custom registries. It also fits teams using CMake or MSBuild.