Pros of curl

• Mature and widely used project with extensive documentation
• Supports a vast array of protocols and features
• Cross-platform compatibility and portability

Cons of curl

• C-based API can be complex for modern C++ developers
• Requires manual memory management
• Steeper learning curve for beginners

Code Comparison

curl:

CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
if(curl) {
  curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");
  res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
  curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
}

cpr:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

auto r = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"https://example.com"});
std::cout << r.text << std::endl;

The code comparison demonstrates the simplicity of cpr compared to curl. cpr provides a more modern, C++-friendly API with automatic resource management, while curl requires manual initialization, option setting, and cleanup.

cpr builds on top of curl, offering a higher-level abstraction that simplifies HTTP requests in C++. It provides a more intuitive interface for developers familiar with modern C++ practices, while still leveraging the robust foundation of curl.

Both libraries have their merits, with curl offering more extensive protocol support and cpr providing a more streamlined experience for C++ developers focusing on HTTP requests.

Pros of cpprestsdk

• More comprehensive library with support for various protocols (HTTP, WebSockets, JSON)
• Better suited for large-scale enterprise applications
• Extensive documentation and Microsoft support

Cons of cpprestsdk

• Larger footprint and potentially steeper learning curve
• Slower compilation times due to its size and complexity
• May be overkill for simple HTTP requests

Code Comparison

cpprestsdk:

#include <cpprest/http_client.h>

auto response = client.request(methods::GET, U("/api/data")).get();
auto json = response.extract_json().get();

cpr:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

auto response = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"https://api.example.com/data"});
auto json = nlohmann::json::parse(response.text);

Summary

cpprestsdk is a more comprehensive library suitable for complex, enterprise-level applications, while cpr is lightweight and focused primarily on HTTP requests. cpprestsdk offers broader functionality but comes with a larger footprint, while cpr is simpler to use for basic HTTP operations. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project and the level of complexity you need to handle.

Pros of cpp-httplib

• Header-only library, making it easier to integrate into projects
• Supports both client and server-side HTTP/HTTPS functionality
• Lightweight with minimal dependencies

Cons of cpp-httplib

• Less feature-rich compared to cpr, especially for advanced use cases
• May require more manual configuration for complex scenarios
• Limited built-in support for asynchronous operations

Code Comparison

cpp-httplib:

#include <httplib.h>

int main() {
    httplib::Client cli("http://example.com");
    auto res = cli.Get("/");
    if (res && res->status == 200) {
        std::cout << res->body << std::endl;
    }
}

cpr:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

int main() {
    auto r = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"http://example.com"});
    if (r.status_code == 200) {
        std::cout << r.text << std::endl;
    }
}

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to make HTTP requests, but cpr provides a more modern and intuitive API. cpp-httplib's approach is more traditional and may be familiar to developers used to working with raw HTTP libraries.

Pros of asyncplusplus

• Focuses on asynchronous programming and parallel task execution
• Provides a more comprehensive set of asynchronous primitives (e.g., tasks, parallel_for, when_all)
• Designed for high-performance concurrent programming

Cons of asyncplusplus

• Limited to asynchronous programming, lacks HTTP-specific features
• May have a steeper learning curve for developers not familiar with concurrent programming concepts
• Less active development and smaller community compared to cpr

Code Comparison

asyncplusplus example:

#include <async++.h>

async::parallel_for(0, 100, [](int i) {
    // Perform parallel operation
});

cpr example:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

auto r = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"https://api.example.com"});
std::cout << r.text << std::endl;

Summary

asyncplusplus is a library focused on asynchronous and parallel programming in C++, offering advanced concurrency features. cpr, on the other hand, is primarily an HTTP client library that simplifies making HTTP requests. While asyncplusplus provides powerful tools for concurrent programming, cpr excels in handling HTTP communications with a simpler API. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of your project: asyncplusplus for complex asynchronous operations, or cpr for straightforward HTTP interactions.

Pros of cpr

• Actively maintained with regular updates and bug fixes
• Extensive documentation and examples for easy integration
• Wide range of features including SSL support and custom headers

Cons of cpr

• Larger codebase and dependencies may increase project size
• Learning curve for advanced features can be steeper
• Some users report occasional performance issues with large requests

Code Comparison

cpr example:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

auto r = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"https://api.github.com/repos/libcpr/cpr"});
std::cout << r.text << std::endl;

cpr> example:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

auto r = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"https://api.github.com/repos/libcpr/cpr>"});
std::cout << r.text << std::endl;

Note: The code comparison shows identical usage for both repositories, as cpr> is not a separate project but rather a typo or mistake in the repository name. The correct repository is libcpr/cpr, and there is no distinct libcpr/cpr> project for comparison.

Pros of json

• Header-only library, making it easy to integrate into projects
• Extensive documentation and examples
• Wide range of JSON manipulation features, including serialization and deserialization

Cons of json

• Larger compile times due to heavy template usage
• May have a steeper learning curve for beginners compared to cpr's simpler API

Code Comparison

json:

#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
using json = nlohmann::json;

json j = {
  {"name", "John"},
  {"age", 30},
  {"city", "New York"}
};
std::string serialized = j.dump();

cpr:

#include <cpr/cpr.h>

auto r = cpr::Get(cpr::Url{"https://api.example.com/data"},
                  cpr::Authentication{"user", "pass"},
                  cpr::Parameters{{"key", "value"}});
std::string response_body = r.text;

While json focuses on JSON data manipulation, cpr is primarily used for HTTP requests. json offers more comprehensive JSON handling, while cpr provides a simpler interface for making HTTP requests. The choice between them depends on the specific needs of your project, whether it's primarily JSON processing or HTTP communication.