https://vcpkg.io/en/packages.html

https://conan.io/center/

Plus they can also host binary packages, so you don't have to build the world, just your own stuff.

For some of us that matters.

I looked at random at the "quote" crate on crates.io and, since I've heard of it and it was on that front page, the "abseil" package from vcpkg

First thing I'm wondering is, is this the thing I thought I might need, or did I mishear somebody and I wanted a different thing? Crates.io provides me detailed information about the crate in one click. Yes, this is what I hoped it was, and here's a great description of how to use it. But on vcpkg there's a single line describing Abseil, and it's cut off for some reason with no indication how to read more. Maybe if I paid Microsoft money I'd know? No idea.

OK. Let's use assume we did want this, both are clear here, crates.io gives me the text to add to cargo to use quote in my program, while vcpkg tells me to invoke a slightly awkward command to get abseil, but either would become natural very quickly I'm sure.

Now, we need a bit more information. On crates.io in two clicks I'm looking at programming documentation for quote, explaining how I should use it with working examples. In one more click I'm reading syntax highlighted source code for the actual quote! macro, in case I'm curious how that works. I am suitably horrified, I definitely want somebody else to solve this problem for me.

But on vcpkg after a few moments with no idea I realise that the Octo-cat icon labelled "Star" is a link to a GitHub repo for Abseil, and this seems the only possible way forward. Alas, the GitHub repo also doesn't really document Abseil, but it does eventually produce a link to another third party site about Abseil, and on that site I get told to install Bazel, a build system that Abseil likes so that I can get "started" learning how to use Abseil.

OK, maybe Abseil is special. Not good news, but lets try something different. What does vcpkg have in the way of Hazard Pointers? It suggests libcds. We can again get to a GitHub, which provides us with a (HTTP) link to a doxygen doc site. Clunky but functional, at least it doesn't want me to install separate build tools. I could learn how to use this, although it lacks search and the examples are poor it is serviceable.

But you're right, vcpkg can include binary packages and so you don't have to build the world and if that is all that matters you're onto a winner.