LuaRocks vs vcpkg
LuaRocks
luarocks.orgvcpkg
vcpkg.ioSide by side
| Figure | LuaRocks | vcpkg |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.5 (#23) | 8.7 (#12) |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | A rock is a zip file containing its rockspec and the files needed to install a module; rocks can be built for specific platforms. | C/C++ libraries |
| Purpose | LuaRocks is a package manager for Lua, and LuaRocks.org hosts rocks and rockspecs for Lua modules. | vcpkg is a C/C++ package manager for acquiring and managing libraries. |
| Security | A 2019 security incident page says LuaRocks.org packages did not have signing and verification at the time of that incident. | The project says most ports build libraries using their original build systems and download source code and tools from their official distribution locations. |
| Support | The official site links to its GitHub issue tracker for reporting issues. | The project lists documentation, a development-team support contact, and community channels including Discord and Slack. |
| Supported platforms | Linux,macOS,Windows,Unix,FreeBSD,Cygwin | Windows,macOS,Linux,Android,iOS |
Plans
In their own words
LuaRocks
LuaRocks is a package manager for Lua, with LuaRocks.org hosting rocks and rockspecs for Lua modules. Its command line uses manifests to find packages, choose a version and platform match, and install the corresponding files locally. Rocks carry version dependency information, which LuaRocks uses to install dependencies and load the appropriate module version. Package collections can be organized through the root manifest, per-user manifests, or custom manifests; development versions are kept in a separate manifest and are not installed by default. LuaRocks supports offline installation and platforms including Linux, macOS, Windows, Unix, FreeBSD, and Cygwin. Module authors can register and upload a rockspec, then publish rock files for a version; the current release supports the `luarocks upload` command. The application is described as pure Lua with no library dependencies, though its current release uses helper tools. LuaRocks is free, with a listed price of free.
vcpkg
vcpkg is a free package manager for acquiring and managing C/C++ libraries. Its curated registry contains over 2,300 open-source libraries, with dependency resolution across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Projects can declare dependencies, optional features, and version constraints in manifest files; baseline version sets and individual package pins help keep dependency choices reproducible. vcpkg integrates with CMake and MSBuild, while manual integration is supported for other build systems. Built packages can be cached for reuse across developer machines and continuous integration runs. Asset caching can mirror source assets and build tools for offline or air-gapped environments. Users can also create custom registries for private libraries, patches, or other packages. Documented editor integrations include Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, CLion, and Qt Creator. The project says most ports use libraries' original build systems and obtain source code and tools from their official distribution locations. vcpkg collects anonymous usage data, with opt-out options. Firewall access needs depend on the ports installed.