cxvm: per-project GCC and Clang versions on Linux

Description and use

cxvm enables per-project GCC/Clang version pinning on Linux, avoiding global changes and root access.

Problem

Embedded Linux developers need per-project GCC/Clang versions that differ from the system compiler, but existing solutions require root or affect all projects.

Outcome

cxvm allows developers to pin exact GCC/Clang versions per project, avoiding global changes, root access, and ensuring correct libstdc++ linkage via rpath.

Workflow

• Install cxvm via curl or cargo
• Use cxvm install gcc@13 to download GCC 13.4.0
• Navigate to project directory and run cxvm use gcc@13 to pin the compiler and generate .cxvm/ and .cxvmrc
• Run CMake with the generated toolchain file or use cxvm exec -- make for non-CMake projects
• Use cxvm current to verify active compiler

Evidence

cxvm keeps any number of GCC and Clang versions side by side under ~/.local/share/cxvm, and each project says which one it uses in a small file you commit

Source

The CMake toolchain file adds an rpath to the pinned GCC's lib64, so the program finds the right libstdc++.so.6 on its own

Source

cxvm is written in Rust and ships as one static musl binary

Source