kassane/cobalt — explained in plain English
Analysis updated 2026-07-17 · repo last pushed 2024-06-26
Write a network server that handles many simultaneous connections without nested callbacks
Use channels to pass messages safely between parts of a program
Wait for the first of several async operations to finish using race
| kassane/cobalt | allentdan/shape_based_matching | benagastov/bindweb-nim-wasm-compiler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Language | C++ | C++ | C++ |
| Last pushed | 2024-06-26 | 2019-03-01 | — |
| Maintenance | Dormant | Dormant | — |
| Setup difficulty | hard | moderate | easy |
| Complexity | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Audience | developer | developer | developer |
Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.
Requires a modern C++ compiler with coroutine support plus Boost.Asio.
Boost.Cobalt is a C++ library that gives developers tools for writing asynchronous code that reads like normal, top-to-bottom code. Normally, when a program needs to wait for something like a network response or a timer, it either blocks completely or forces the developer to use callbacks, which tangle the logic. This library uses coroutines to let the code wait for operations without freezing the whole application and without scattering logic across callback functions. At a high level, the library provides building blocks like promises, tasks, generators, and channels. A promise starts running immediately, while a task waits until explicitly activated. Generators produce a series of values over time. Channels work like those in Go, allowing different parts of a program to pass messages to each other safely. The library also includes utilities like race, which lets a program wait for multiple operations at once and proceed when the first one finishes. This is useful for developers building applications that handle heavy input and output, such as network servers or programs managing many simultaneous connections. For example, a server handling hundreds of client connections can use these tools to manage timers and communications cleanly. Instead of deeply nested callback functions, the developer writes straightforward code that waits for a response, processes it, and moves to the next step. The library runs on top of Boost.Asio, a well-established C++ networking library, and requires a relatively modern version of C++ that supports coroutines. It provides a main entry point that handles setup, including forwarding interruption signals so the program can shut down gracefully. Notably, the repository uses Zig's build system for its testing, though the library itself is written entirely in C++.
Boost.Cobalt is a C++ library that uses coroutines to let developers write asynchronous code that reads like normal top-to-bottom code instead of tangled callbacks.
Mainly C++. The stack also includes C++, Boost.Asio, Zig.
Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2024-06-26).
Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.
Mainly developer.
This repo across BitVibe Labs
double-check against the repo, no cap.