Build System Comparison

Table of Contents

0.1. Make   drill build_tools

Make is a command-line tool used for build automation, primarily to build executable programs and libraries from source code.

What is Make used for?

  • 2024-08-08

0.1.1. Answer

Make is used for build automation, controlling the generation of executables and other non-source files from a program's source files.

# Basic usage of Make
make

0.2. Bazel   drill build_tools

Bazel is a build tool that supports projects in multiple languages and is designed to handle large codebases with complex dependencies.

What is Bazel?

  • 2024-08-08

0.2.1. Answer

Bazel is a build tool that builds multiple languages together, stores build artifacts outside of the source directory, and manages dependencies to ensure consistent versions.

# Basic usage of Bazel
bazel build //path/to:target

0.3. Buck   drill build_tools

Buck is a build system developed by Facebook, designed for fast build speeds and efficient handling of large codebases.

What is Buck?

  • 2024-08-08

0.3.1. Answer

Buck is a build system that focuses on speed and efficiency, particularly for large codebases, by using a directed acyclic graph to determine build order.

# Basic usage of Buck
buck build //path/to:target

0.4. CMake   drill build_tools

CMake is a cross-platform build system generator that manages the build process in an operating system and compiler-independent manner.

What is CMake?

  • 2024-08-08

0.4.1. Answer

CMake is a tool that generates build systems for projects, allowing developers to define build parameters in a platform-independent way.

# Basic usage of CMake
cmake . && make

0.5. Meson   drill build_tools

Meson is a build system that aims to be fast and user-friendly, supporting modern programming languages and development workflows.

What is Meson?

  • 2024-08-08

0.5.1. Answer

Meson is a build system designed for speed and ease of use, supporting modern languages and providing a user-friendly interface for developers.

# Basic usage of Meson
meson setup builddir && meson compile -C builddir

1. References