vix make

vix make generates C++ files quickly from the folder you are working in.

Use it when you want to create common C++ scaffolding such as classes, structs, enums, functions, concepts, exceptions, tests, lambdas, or config files.

Usage

vix make <kind> <name> [options]
vix make:<kind> [name] [options]

What it does

vix make is a file generator. It writes files into the current directory by default, or into a custom folder when --in is provided.

It is useful for quickly creating: classes, structs, enums, free functions, lambdas, concepts, exceptions, GoogleTest skeletons, and JSON runtime config files.

Basic usage

vix make class User
vix make struct Claims
vix make enum Status
vix make function parse_token
vix make test AuthService
vix make config app

Interactive generator form

You can also use the vix make:<kind> form:

vix make:class
vix make:class User

If the name is missing, Vix starts an interactive prompt.

Supported kinds

Kind	What it generates
class	A C++ class, usually .hpp and .cpp
struct	A plain data struct, usually .hpp
enum	An enum class with helpers
function	A free function, usually .hpp and .cpp
lambda	A modern generic lambda snippet
concept	A C++20 concept
exception	A std::exception-derived type
test	A GoogleTest skeleton
module	Redirects to the modules workflow
config	A JSON runtime configuration file

Generate a class

vix make class User
vix make class User --in src/domain
vix make class User --namespace app::domain
vix make class User --header-only
vix make class User --dry-run
vix make class User --print

Generate a struct

vix make struct Claims
vix make struct Claims --namespace auth
vix make struct Claims --in src/auth

Generate an enum

vix make enum Status
vix make enum Status --in src/domain
vix make enum Status --namespace app::domain

Generate a free function

vix make function parse_token
vix make function parse_token --in src/auth
vix make function parse_token --header-only

Generate a lambda

vix make lambda visit_all
vix make lambda visit_all --print

Generate a concept

vix make concept EqualityComparable

This generates a C++20 concept file, useful for expressing constraints in generic code.

Generate an exception

vix make exception InvalidToken
vix make exception InvalidToken --in src/auth

Generate a test

vix make test AuthService

This generates a GoogleTest skeleton.

Generate a config file

vix make config app
vix make config app --websocket --database
vix make config app --server --logging --waf
vix make config app --no-websocket

Config sections

Option	Meaning
--server / --no-server	Enable/disable server section
--logging / --no-logging	Enable/disable logging section
--waf / --no-waf	Enable/disable WAF section
--websocket / --no-websocket	Enable/disable WebSocket section
--database / --no-database	Enable/disable database section

Output directory

By default, files are generated in the current directory.

vix make enum Status --in src/domain
vix make class User --dir ./apps/api

--dir is the project root. --in is the folder where generated files are written.

Namespace

vix make class User --namespace app::domain
vix make struct Claims --namespace auth

Header-only generation

vix make class User --header-only

Preview and dry run

vix make lambda visit_all --print
vix make class User --dry-run

Overwrite files

vix make class User --force

Use --force carefully — it replaces existing files.

Options

Option	Description
-d, --dir <path>	Project root. Default is the current directory.
--in <path>	Folder where files should be generated.
--namespace <ns>	Override namespace.
--header-only	Generate only header files when supported.
--print	Print preview or snippet without writing files.
--dry-run	Show what would be generated without writing files.
--force	Overwrite existing files.
--server / --no-server	Enable/disable server section for config generation.
--logging / --no-logging	Enable/disable logging section for config generation.
--waf / --no-waf	Enable/disable WAF section for config generation.
--websocket / --no-websocket	Enable/disable WebSocket section for config generation.
--database / --no-database	Enable/disable database section for config generation.
-h, --help	Show command help.

Common workflows

# Generate a domain class
vix make class User --in src/domain --namespace app::domain

# Generate an auth struct
vix make struct Claims --in src/auth --namespace auth

# Generate an enum for status values
vix make enum Status --in src/domain

# Generate a parser function
vix make function parse_token --in src/auth

# Generate a custom exception
vix make exception InvalidToken --in src/auth

# Generate a test skeleton
vix make test AuthService

# Generate app configuration
vix make config app --websocket --database

Common mistakes

Using vix make instead of vix new

vix make generates files. It does not create a full project layout. Use vix new when starting a new app.

Confusing --dir and --in

--dir tells Vix where the project root is. --in tells Vix where to write files.

vix make class User --dir ./apps/api --in src/domain
# project root: ./apps/api
# output folder: ./apps/api/src/domain

Missing a name

# May start interactive prompt
vix make class

# Direct generation
vix make class User

# Or use interactive form intentionally
vix make:class

When to use vix make

Use vix make when your project already exists and you want to generate C++ files quickly, create test skeletons, generate a runtime config file, or preview generated code before writing it.

Use vix new when you need a new project.

Related commands

Command	Purpose
vix new	Create a new project
vix dev	Run the project in development mode
vix run	Build and run
vix build	Build project
vix check	Validate project
vix tests	Run tests
vix fmt	Format generated files

Next step

Continue with formatting.

Open the vix fmt guide