Описание тега header-only
In C or C++, a library is called header-only if the full definitions of all macros, functions and classes comprising the library are visible to the compiler in a header file form.
Header-only libraries do not need to be separately compiled, packaged and installed in order to be used. All that is required is to point the compiler at the location of the headers and then #include the header files into the application source.
The disadvantages include:
- brittleness. Most changes to the library will require recompilation of all compilation units using that library
- longer compilation times. The compilation unit must see the implementation of all components in the included files, rather than just their interfaces
The header-only form is popular because it avoids the problem of packaging.