[Request] Automate build/resolving dependencies

[tparkerd]

Building and deploying the pipeline is not as streamlined as it could be---dependencies being one of the main issues. The python dependencies are fine, but OpenCV and Gia3D are less so. If this pipeline were ever to be scaled up, it needs to be easier to deploy updates or from scratch.

I admit that I'm not well-versed in the modern C++ ecosystem, so how this is accomplished may take some digging. You can start by looking into Meson and Conan. If you don't like Makefiles, then consider moving to CMake instead. I discourage relying on building using an IDE (e.g. Visual Studio)---unless extensively documented (with screenshots).

Consider changing the dependency of Gia3D to a git submodule and adding a nested call to make in the top-level makefile. Gia3D's module will likely handle its own build process.

Example of nested makefile here