A desktop GUI for scaffolding modern C++/CMake and ROS2 Jazzy projects in seconds.

Built with Python 3 and PySide6. No web framework, no Electron — just a fast native Qt app.

• Two project types — standard C++/CMake and ROS2 Jazzy (ament_cmake)
• Live preview — CMakeLists.txt, package.xml, and README update as you type
• Dependency manager — categorised package tree with one-click add/remove
• Dynamic executable list — add any number of named targets with per-target options
• Library configuration — STATIC / SHARED / INTERFACE, CMake package export, ament exports
• Extras — .gitignore, .clang-format, .clang-tidy, .editorconfig, GitHub Actions, Dockerfile, GoogleTest stubs
• VS Code integration — settings / tasks / launch.json; always builds in Release mode
• Preset system — 4 built-in presets, save/load custom presets as JSON
• Git init — optional git init + initial commit after generation

• Python ≥ 3.10
• PySide6 ≥ 6.4

pipx install git+https://github.com/<your-org>/cpp-gen.git

or from a local clone:

git clone https://github.com/<your-org>/cpp-gen.git
cd cpp-gen
pipx install .

pip install git+https://github.com/<your-org>/cpp-gen.git
# or
pip install -e .   # editable / development install

cpp-gen

That's it. The GUI opens immediately.

1. Project tab — set name, choose Normal C++ or ROS2 Jazzy, pick license and C++ standard
2. Dependencies tab — double-click packages from the suggestion tree or type custom names
3. Executables tab — click + Add Executable for each binary target
4. Library tab — choose SHARED / STATIC / INTERFACE; enable CMake package export if needed
5. Extras tab — enable .clang-format, GitHub Actions, tests, etc.
6. Preview tab — verify the generated CMakeLists.txt and file tree
7. Click ▶ Generate Project

Normal C++:

cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
cmake --build build -j$(nproc)

ROS2 Jazzy (from your workspace root):

colcon build --packages-select <name> --cmake-args -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
source install/setup.bash
ros2 run <name> <executable>

cpp-gen/
├── run.py                   # convenience launcher (python run.py)
├── requirements.txt
├── pyproject.toml
└── src/cpp_project_generator/
    ├── main.py
    ├── gui/
    │   ├── main_window.py   # main window, toolbar, preset handling
    │   ├── project_tab.py
    │   ├── deps_tab.py
    │   ├── executables_tab.py
    │   ├── library_tab.py
    │   ├── extras_tab.py
    │   └── preview_tab.py   # live preview + CMake syntax highlighting
    ├── generator/
    │   ├── models.py               # dataclasses + JSON serialisation
    │   ├── cmake_generator.py      # CMakeLists.txt (CPP + ROS2)
    │   ├── package_xml_generator.py
    │   ├── source_generator.py     # placeholder C++ files
    │   ├── vscode_generator.py
    │   ├── readme_generator.py
    │   ├── extras_generator.py     # gitignore, license, CI, …
    │   └── file_writer.py          # orchestrates all generators
    └── presets/
        ├── cpp_minimal.json
        ├── cpp_opencv_eigen.json
        ├── ros2_minimal.json
        └── ros2_robotics.json

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Open a pull request — please keep commits focused and add tests for new generator logic

MIT — see LICENSE.