diff --git a/cmake/cpp.cmake b/cmake/cpp.cmake
index 6cdcc086b9..e390221cf2 100644
--- a/cmake/cpp.cmake
+++ b/cmake/cpp.cmake
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ set(CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_PREFER_CONFIG TRUE)
 if(NOT BUILD_ZLIB)
  find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
 endif()
+if(NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "Target ZLIB::ZLIB not available.")
+endif()
 
 if(NOT BUILD_absl)
   find_package(absl REQUIRED)
@@ -39,21 +42,22 @@ set(GFLAGS_USE_TARGET_NAMESPACE TRUE)
 if(NOT BUILD_gflags)
   find_package(gflags REQUIRED)
 endif()
+if(NOT TARGET gflags::gflags)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "Target gflags::gflags not available.")
+endif()
 
 if(NOT BUILD_glog)
   find_package(glog REQUIRED)
 endif()
+if(NOT TARGET glog::glog)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "Target glog::glog not available.")
+endif()
 
 if(NOT BUILD_Protobuf)
   find_package(Protobuf REQUIRED)
-else()
-  if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_LESS "3.18")
-    find_package(Protobuf REQUIRED CONFIG)
-  endif()
-
-  if(NOT TARGET protobuf::libprotobuf)
-    message(FATAL_ERROR "protobuf not builded")
-  endif()
+endif()
+if(NOT TARGET protobuf::libprotobuf)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "Target protobuf::libprotobuf not available.")
 endif()
 
 if(USE_SCIP)
@@ -246,7 +250,7 @@ get_target_property(protobuf_dirs protobuf::libprotobuf INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECT
 foreach(dir IN LISTS protobuf_dirs)
   if ("${dir}" MATCHES "BUILD_INTERFACE")
     message(STATUS "Adding proto path: ${dir}")
-    list(APPEND PROTO_DIRS "\"--proto_path=${dir}\"")
+    list(APPEND PROTO_DIRS "--proto_path=${dir}")
   endif()
 endforeach()
 
diff --git a/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt
index bbff07c49b..09a5dd0181 100644
--- a/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -142,10 +142,11 @@ endif()
 if(BUILD_Protobuf)
   message(CHECK_START "Fetching Protobuf")
   list(APPEND CMAKE_MESSAGE_INDENT "  ")
+  set(protobuf_BUILD_TESTS OFF)
+  set(protobuf_BUILD_EXPORT OFF)
+  set(protobuf_MSVC_STATIC_RUNTIME OFF)
   # FetchContent_Declare(SOURCE_SUBDIR) was introduced in 3.18
   if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.18")
-    set(protobuf_BUILD_TESTS OFF)
-    set(protobuf_MSVC_STATIC_RUNTIME OFF)
     FetchContent_Declare(
       protobuf
       GIT_REPOSITORY "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf.git"
@@ -154,15 +155,12 @@ if(BUILD_Protobuf)
       SOURCE_SUBDIR cmake)
     FetchContent_MakeAvailable(protobuf)
   else()
-    build_git_dependency(
+    fetch_git_dependency(
       NAME Protobuf
       REPOSITORY "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf.git"
       TAG "v3.12.2"
-      APPLY_PATCH "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../../patches/protobuf-v3.12.2.patch"
-      CMAKE_ARGS
-      -Dprotobuf_MSVC_STATIC_RUNTIME:BOOL=OFF
-      -Dprotobuf_BUILD_TESTS:BOOL=OFF
-      "SOURCE_SUBDIR cmake"
+      PATCH_COMMAND "git apply \"${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../../patches/protobuf-v3.12.2.patch\""
+      SOURCE_SUBDIR cmake
       )
   endif()
   list(POP_BACK CMAKE_MESSAGE_INDENT)
diff --git a/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt.in b/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt.in
index 413349d387..040303ce66 100644
--- a/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt.in
+++ b/cmake/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt.in
@@ -1,43 +1,26 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION @CMAKE_VERSION@)
 
 project(@GIT_DEP_NAME@ NONE)
 
 include(ExternalProject)
 
+set(FETCH_BASE_DIR "@CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/_deps" CACHE PATH "Directory under which to collect all populated content")
+
 ExternalProject_Add(${PROJECT_NAME}_project
-  TMP_DIR "@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/${PROJECT_NAME}/tmp"
-  STAMP_DIR "@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/${PROJECT_NAME}/stamp"
-  DOWNLOAD_DIR "@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/${PROJECT_NAME}/download"
-  SOURCE_DIR "@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/${PROJECT_NAME}/source"
-  BINARY_DIR "@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/${PROJECT_NAME}/build"
+  #TMP_DIR      "${FETCH_BASE_DIR}/@NAME_LOWER@-tmp"
+  #STAMP_DIR    "${FETCH_BASE_DIR}/@NAME_LOWER@-stamp"
+  #DOWNLOAD_DIR "${FETCH_BASE_DIR}/@NAME_LOWER@-download"
+  SOURCE_DIR    "${FETCH_BASE_DIR}/@NAME_LOWER@-src"
+  BINARY_DIR    "${FETCH_BASE_DIR}/@NAME_LOWER@-build"
 
   GIT_REPOSITORY "@GIT_DEP_REPOSITORY@"
   GIT_TAG "@GIT_DEP_TAG@"
-  LOG_DOWNLOAD FALSE
-
-  # UPDATE_COMMAND ""
-  LOG_UPDATE FALSE
-
-  PATCH_COMMAND @PATCH_CMD@
-  #LOG_PATCH FALSE
-
-  # CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
-  CMAKE_ARGS
-    -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/install
-    -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=@CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR@/install
-    -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=@CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE@
-    -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF
-    -DCMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE:BOOL=ON
-    -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF
-    @GIT_DEP_CMAKE_ARGS@
-    LOG_CONFIGURE FALSE
-
-  # BUILD_COMMAND ""
-  LOG_BUILD FALSE
-
-  # INSTALL_COMMAND ""
-  LOG_INSTALL FALSE
+  PATCH_COMMAND @GIT_DEP_PATCH_COMMAND@
 
+  CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
+  BUILD_COMMAND ""
+  INSTALL_COMMAND ""
   TEST_COMMAND ""
-  LOG_TEST FALSE
+  USES_TERMINAL_DOWNLOAD  YES
+  USES_TERMINAL_UPDATE    YES
 )
diff --git a/cmake/utils.cmake b/cmake/utils.cmake
index 0ae4eb461c..5abf27d402 100644
--- a/cmake/utils.cmake
+++ b/cmake/utils.cmake
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ function(check_target my_target)
 endfunction()
 
 
-# build_git_dependency()
+# fetch_git_dependency()
 #
 # CMake function to download, build and install (in staging area) a dependency at configure
 # time.
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ endfunction()
 # APPLY_PATCH: apply patch
 # CMAKE_ARGS: List of specific CMake args to add
 #
-# build_dependency(
+# fetch_git_dependency(
 #   NAME
 #     abseil-cpp
 #   URL
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ endfunction()
 #   TAG
 #     master
 #   APPLY_PATCH
-#     ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/patches/abseil-cpp.patch
+#     "git apply ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/patches/abseil-cpp.patch"
 # )
-function(build_git_dependency)
+function(fetch_git_dependency)
   set(options "")
-  set(oneValueArgs NAME REPOSITORY TAG APPLY_PATCH)
+  set(oneValueArgs NAME REPOSITORY TAG PATCH_COMMAND SOURCE_SUBDIR)
   set(multiValueArgs CMAKE_ARGS)
   cmake_parse_arguments(GIT_DEP
     "${options}"
@@ -96,20 +96,21 @@ function(build_git_dependency)
     ${ARGN}
   )
   message(STATUS "Building ${GIT_DEP_NAME}: ...")
+  string(TOLOWER ${GIT_DEP_NAME} NAME_LOWER)
 
-  if(GIT_DEP_APPLY_PATCH)
-    set(PATCH_CMD "git apply \"${GIT_DEP_APPLY_PATCH}\"")
+  if(GIT_DEP_PATCH_COMMAND)
+    set(PATCH_CMD "${GIT_DEP_PATCH_COMMAND}")
   else()
-    set(PATCH_CMD "\"\"")
+    set(PATCH_CMD "")
   endif()
   configure_file(
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/CMakeLists.txt.in
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${GIT_DEP_NAME}/CMakeLists.txt @ONLY)
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/CMakeLists.txt.in
+    ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-subbuild/CMakeLists.txt @ONLY)
 
   execute_process(
-    COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -H. -Bproject_build -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}"
+    COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -S. -Bproject_build -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}"
     RESULT_VARIABLE result
-    WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${GIT_DEP_NAME})
+    WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-subbuild)
   if(result)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for ${GIT_DEP_NAME} failed: ${result}")
   endif()
@@ -117,11 +118,21 @@ function(build_git_dependency)
   execute_process(
     COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build project_build --config ${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}
     RESULT_VARIABLE result
-    WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${GIT_DEP_NAME})
+    WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-subbuild)
   if(result)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for ${GIT_DEP_NAME} failed: ${result}")
   endif()
 
+  if(GIT_DEP_SOURCE_SUBDIR)
+    add_subdirectory(
+      ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-src/${GIT_DEP_SOURCE_SUBDIR}
+      ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-build)
+  else()
+    add_subdirectory(
+      ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-src
+      ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/_deps/${NAME_LOWER}-build)
+  endif()
+
   message(STATUS "Building ${GIT_DEP_NAME}: ...DONE")
 endfunction()
 
diff --git a/patches/protobuf-v3.12.2.patch b/patches/protobuf-v3.12.2.patch
index e54b1eba95..182cb58485 100644
--- a/patches/protobuf-v3.12.2.patch
+++ b/patches/protobuf-v3.12.2.patch
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 diff --git a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
-index 849679995..1efc6141c 100644
+index 849679995..63456ebcf 100644
 --- a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
 +++ b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
 @@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ endif ()
@@ -13,7 +13,15 @@ index 849679995..1efc6141c 100644
  
  # Project
  project(protobuf C CXX)
-@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ else (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
+@@ -41,6 +45,7 @@ option(protobuf_BUILD_TESTS "Build tests" ON)
+ option(protobuf_BUILD_CONFORMANCE "Build conformance tests" OFF)
+ option(protobuf_BUILD_EXAMPLES "Build examples" OFF)
+ option(protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES "Build libprotoc and protoc compiler" ON)
++option(protobuf_BUILD_EXPORT "Build export to use build directory" ON)
+ if (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
+   set(protobuf_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS_DEFAULT ON)
+ else (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
+@@ -48,7 +53,7 @@ else (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
  endif (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
  option(protobuf_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "Build Shared Libraries" ${protobuf_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS_DEFAULT})
  include(CMakeDependentOption)
@@ -22,35 +30,91 @@ index 849679995..1efc6141c 100644
    "NOT protobuf_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS" OFF)
  set(protobuf_WITH_ZLIB_DEFAULT ON)
  option(protobuf_WITH_ZLIB "Build with zlib support" ${protobuf_WITH_ZLIB_DEFAULT})
-@@ -116,8 +120,10 @@ endif (CMAKE_USE_PTHREADS_INIT)
+@@ -116,24 +121,12 @@ endif (CMAKE_USE_PTHREADS_INIT)
  
  set(_protobuf_FIND_ZLIB)
  if (protobuf_WITH_ZLIB)
 -  find_package(ZLIB)
 -  if (ZLIB_FOUND)
-+  if (NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
-+    find_package(ZLIB)
-+  endif()
-+  if (ZLIB_FOUND OR TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
-     set(HAVE_ZLIB 1)
-     # FindZLIB module define ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS variable
-     # Set ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES for compatible
-@@ -125,15 +131,15 @@ if (protobuf_WITH_ZLIB)
-     # Using imported target if exists
-     if (TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
-       set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES ZLIB::ZLIB)
+-    set(HAVE_ZLIB 1)
+-    # FindZLIB module define ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS variable
+-    # Set ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES for compatible
+-    set(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES} ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+-    # Using imported target if exists
+-    if (TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
+-      set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES ZLIB::ZLIB)
 -      set(_protobuf_FIND_ZLIB "if(NOT ZLIB_FOUND)\n  find_package(ZLIB)\nendif()")
-+      set(_protobuf_FIND_ZLIB "if(NOT ZLIB_FOUND AND NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)\n  find_package(ZLIB)\nendif()")
-     endif (TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
+-    endif (TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
 -  else (ZLIB_FOUND)
-+  else (ZLIB_FOUND OR TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
-     set(HAVE_ZLIB 0)
-     # Explicitly set these to empty (override NOT_FOUND) so cmake doesn't
-     # complain when we use them later.
-     set(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES)
-     set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES)
+-    set(HAVE_ZLIB 0)
+-    # Explicitly set these to empty (override NOT_FOUND) so cmake doesn't
+-    # complain when we use them later.
+-    set(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES)
+-    set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES)
 -  endif (ZLIB_FOUND)
-+  endif (ZLIB_FOUND OR TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
++  if (NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
++    find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
++  endif()
++  set(HAVE_ZLIB 1)
++  set(_protobuf_FIND_ZLIB "if(NOT ZLIB_FOUND AND NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)\n
++  find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)\nendif()")
  endif (protobuf_WITH_ZLIB)
  
  if (HAVE_ZLIB)
+@@ -223,7 +216,6 @@ endif (MSVC)
+ get_filename_component(protobuf_source_dir ${protobuf_SOURCE_DIR} PATH)
+ 
+ include_directories(
+-  ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES}
+   ${protobuf_BINARY_DIR}
+   ${protobuf_source_dir}/src)
+ 
+diff --git a/cmake/install.cmake b/cmake/install.cmake
+index be47c54a1..846e6dd60 100644
+--- a/cmake/install.cmake
++++ b/cmake/install.cmake
+@@ -119,18 +119,19 @@ configure_file(protobuf-options.cmake
+   ${CMAKE_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR}/protobuf-options.cmake @ONLY)
+ 
+ # Allows the build directory to be used as a find directory.
+-
+-if (protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES)
+-  export(TARGETS libprotobuf-lite libprotobuf libprotoc protoc
+-    NAMESPACE protobuf::
+-    FILE ${CMAKE_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR}/protobuf-targets.cmake
+-  )
+-else (protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES)
+-  export(TARGETS libprotobuf-lite libprotobuf
+-    NAMESPACE protobuf::
+-    FILE ${CMAKE_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR}/protobuf-targets.cmake
+-  )
+-endif (protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES)
++if(protobuf_BUILD_EXPORT)
++  if (protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES)
++    export(TARGETS libprotobuf-lite libprotobuf libprotoc protoc
++      NAMESPACE protobuf::
++      FILE ${CMAKE_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR}/protobuf-targets.cmake
++      )
++  else (protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES)
++    export(TARGETS libprotobuf-lite libprotobuf
++      NAMESPACE protobuf::
++      FILE ${CMAKE_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR}/protobuf-targets.cmake
++      )
++  endif (protobuf_BUILD_PROTOC_BINARIES)
++endif()
+ 
+ install(EXPORT protobuf-targets
+   DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR}"
+diff --git a/cmake/libprotobuf.cmake b/cmake/libprotobuf.cmake
+index 0c12596c2..ac119a84d 100644
+--- a/cmake/libprotobuf.cmake
++++ b/cmake/libprotobuf.cmake
+@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ add_library(libprotobuf ${protobuf_SHARED_OR_STATIC}
+   ${libprotobuf_lite_files} ${libprotobuf_files} ${libprotobuf_includes} ${libprotobuf_rc_files})
+ target_link_libraries(libprotobuf ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
+ if(protobuf_WITH_ZLIB)
+-  target_link_libraries(libprotobuf ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
++  target_link_libraries(libprotobuf ZLIB::ZLIB)
+ endif()
+ if(protobuf_LINK_LIBATOMIC)
+   target_link_libraries(libprotobuf atomic)