Running Conan Commands from PowerShell Scripts

Oct 13, 2025 by leolavanderia.com.br 83 views

Introduction

Conan is a popular package manager for C and C++ projects, allowing developers to easily manage dependencies and build their applications. However, automating Conan commands can be a challenge, especially when working with complex build processes. In this article, we will explore how to run Conan commands from PowerShell scripts, enabling you to automate the installation, build, and packaging of your projects.

Why Use PowerShell Scripts?

PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that provides a flexible and efficient way to automate tasks. By using PowerShell scripts, you can create custom workflows that integrate Conan commands with other tools and processes, streamlining your development workflow.

Running Conan Commands from PowerShell Scripts

To run Conan commands from a PowerShell script, you can use the conan command-line tool. Here's an example of how to create a simple PowerShell script that installs a package using Conan:

# Install Conan package manager
conan install mypackage/1.0@user/channel

# Build and package the project
conan build mypackage/1.0@user/channel

However, this approach has limitations. The conan command-line tool is designed for interactive use, and it may not be suitable for automation. To overcome this, you can use the conan API, which provides a programmatic interface for interacting with Conan.

Using the Conan API with PowerShell

The Conan API is a Python library that provides a set of functions for interacting with Conan. To use the Conan API with PowerShell, you need to install the conan package using pip:

pip install conan

Once installed, you can import the conan module in your PowerShell script and use its functions to interact with Conan:

# Import the conan module
Import-Module conan

# Create a new Conan project
$project = New-ConanProject -name "mypackage" -version "1.0" -channel "user/channel"

# Install the package
Install-ConanPackage -project $project

# Build and package the project
Build-ConanProject -project $project

Automating Conan Commands with PowerShell Scripts

To automate Conan commands, you can create a PowerShell script that uses the conan API to interact with Conan. Here's an example of a more complex script that automates the installation, build, and packaging of a project:

# Import the conan module
Import-Module conan

# Create a new Conan project
$project = New-ConanProject -name "mypackage" -version "1.0" -channel "user/channel"

# Install the package
Install-ConanPackage -project $project

# Build the project
Build-ConanProject -project $project

# Package the project
Package-ConanProject -project $project

# Upload the package to a remote repository
Upload-ConanPackage -project $project -remote "myremote"

Tips and Tricks

When working with PowerShell scripts, keep the following tips and tricks in mind:

Use the conan API to interact with Conan, as it provides a more flexible and efficient way to automate tasks.
Use the Import-Module cmdlet to import the conan module in your script.
Use the New-ConanProject function to create a new Conan project.
Use the Install-ConanPackage function to install a package.
Use the Build-ConanProject function to build a project.
Use the Package-ConanProject function to package a project.
Use the Upload-ConanPackage function to upload a package to a remote repository.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to run Conan commands from PowerShell scripts, enabling you to automate the installation, build, and packaging of your projects. However, we know that you may have questions about how to implement this in your own projects. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about using Conan with PowerShell scripts.

Q: What is the difference between using the `conan` command-line tool and the `conan` API?

A: The conan command-line tool is designed for interactive use, while the conan API is a programmatic interface for interacting with Conan. The conan API provides a more flexible and efficient way to automate tasks, making it ideal for use in PowerShell scripts.

Q: How do I install the `conan` package using pip?

A: To install the conan package using pip, run the following command:

pip install conan

Q: How do I import the `conan` module in my PowerShell script?

A: To import the conan module in your PowerShell script, use the Import-Module cmdlet:

Import-Module conan

Q: How do I create a new Conan project using the `conan` API?

A: To create a new Conan project using the conan API, use the New-ConanProject function:

$project = New-ConanProject -name "mypackage" -version "1.0" -channel "user/channel"

Q: How do I install a package using the `conan` API?

A: To install a package using the conan API, use the Install-ConanPackage function:

Install-ConanPackage -project $project

Q: How do I build a project using the `conan` API?

A: To build a project using the conan API, use the Build-ConanProject function:

Build-ConanProject -project $project

Q: How do I package a project using the `conan` API?

A: To package a project using the conan API, use the Package-ConanProject function:

Package-ConanProject -project $project

Q: How do I upload a package to a remote repository using the `conan` API?

A: To upload a package to a remote repository using the conan API, use the Upload-ConanPackage function:

Upload-ConanPackage -project $project -remote "myremote"

Q: What are some best practices for using the `conan` API in PowerShell scripts?

A: Here are some best practices for using the conan API in PowerShell scripts:

Use the conan API to interact with Conan, as it provides a more flexible and efficient way to automate tasks.
Use the Import-Module cmdlet to import the conan module in your script.
Use the New-ConanProject function to create a new Conan project.
Use the Install-ConanPackage function to install a package.
Use the Build-ConanProject function to build a project.
Use the Package-ConanProject function to package a project.
Use the Upload-ConanPackage function to upload a package to a remote repository.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some of the most frequently asked questions about using Conan with PowerShell scripts. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can automate the installation, build, and packaging of your projects using the conan API and PowerShell scripts. Remember to use the conan API to interact with Conan, and to use the Import-Module cmdlet to import the conan module in your script. With these tips and tricks, you can take your development workflow to the next level.