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CMake VS SBT

Compare CMake VS SBT and see what are their differences

Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

CMake logo CMake

CMake is an open-source, cross-platform family of tools designed to build, test and package software.

SBT logo SBT

SBT is a build tool for Scala, like Ant or Maven but with hieroglyphics.
  • CMake Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-21

We recommend LibHunt CMake for discovery and comparisons of trending CMake projects.

  • SBT Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02

CMake features and specs

  • Cross-platform support
    CMake is designed to support multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This allows developers to write platform-independent CMake scripts.
  • Build tool agnostic
    CMake can generate build files for a variety of build systems including Makefiles, Ninja, and Visual Studio solutions. This means developers are not tied to a specific build tool.
  • Large community and extensive documentation
    CMake has a large user base and an extensive amount of documentation and tutorials available which can be helpful for new and experienced users alike.
  • Integrated testing support
    CMake includes support for testing frameworks such as CTest, which allows for automated testing of code during the build process.
  • Modular and scalable
    CMake is highly modular, enabling users to create reusable and maintainable code by organizing CMake scripts into libraries and modules.

Possible disadvantages of CMake

  • Steep learning curve
    CMake's complexity and its extensive range of features can be difficult for beginners to grasp, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Verbose syntax
    CMake scripts can often become verbose and difficult to read, especially for large projects. This can make maintenance and debugging challenging.
  • Inconsistent module quality
    The quality and support of different CMake modules can vary, sometimes leading to issues with compatibility or functionality.
  • Performance overhead
    CMake may introduce some performance overhead during the configuration process, especially for very large projects.
  • Complexity in advanced features
    Some of the more advanced features of CMake, such as custom commands and complex dependency management, can be quite difficult to implement correctly.

SBT features and specs

  • Incremental Compilation
    SBT offers incremental compilation, which only recompiles the parts of your code that have changed, leading to faster build times and increased productivity.
  • Interactive Shell
    SBT provides an interactive shell that allows developers to run tasks, tests, and compile code without leaving the environment, improving the workflow and convenience.
  • Built-In Dependency Management
    SBT integrates seamlessly with Ivy for dependency management, making it easy to define, manage, and retrieve project dependencies efficiently.
  • Scala-Specific
    SBT is specifically designed for Scala projects, offering tailored features and optimizations that align well with Scala programming paradigms and best practices.
  • Highly Customizable
    With a powerful plugin ecosystem and the ability to define custom tasks, SBT is highly customizable, allowing developers to tailor the build process to their specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of SBT

  • Complexity
    SBT can be difficult to learn for new Scala developers due to its unique syntax and extensive configuration options, potentially leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Overheads
    While SBT provides incremental compilation, it may still have performance overheads in large projects or when many plugins are used, affecting build times.
  • Limited Ecosystem Outside Scala
    Since SBT is specifically tailored for Scala, its ecosystem and community support may be more limited for projects that involve languages other than Scala.
  • Less Popular Than Some Alternatives
    Compared to build tools like Maven or Gradle, SBT has a smaller user base, which can result in fewer resources, forums, and community support for troubleshooting.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    The configuration language of SBT may be challenging to debug, particularly for users unfamiliar with its syntax, leading to potential difficulties in resolving issues.

Analysis of CMake

Overall verdict

  • CMake is generally considered a good tool for managing the build process of software projects, especially those with a complex codebase that spans multiple platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Flexibility
    It offers great flexibility in terms of defining build processes, enabling advanced configuration and optimization techniques to be used.
  • Integration
    It integrates well with many popular IDEs and other tools, providing a smoother development experience.
  • Wide adoption
    CMake is widely used in the industry, which leads to robust community support and regular updates.
  • Cross platform support
    CMake is designed to support multiple platforms, which makes it highly valuable for projects that need to be compiled and run on different operating systems.

Recommended for

  • projects requiring cross-platform compatibility
  • developers looking for a powerful build configuration tool
  • complex software projects with numerous dependencies
  • teams that value strong community and industry support

CMake videos

+ Add

CMake for Dummies

More videos:

  • Review - CppCon 2017: Mathieu Ropert “Using Modern CMake Patterns to Enforce a Good Modular Design”
  • Review - Hunter, a CMake driven package manager for C/C++ projects - Daniel Friedrich - Lightning Talks

SBT videos

+ Add

Inside PWC Engine Remanufacturer SBT

More videos:

  • Review - review audio sound system milik youtuber ibnu sbt trenggalek horregg luuurrrrrr
  • Review - CEK SOUND & REVIEW SOUND OMAHAN YOUTUBER IBNU SBT TRENGGALEK

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CMake and SBT)

CMake

SBT

Front End Package Manager
83 83%
Front End Package Manager
17% 17
JS Build Tools
73 73%
JS Build Tools
27% 27
JavaScript Package Manager
81 81%
JavaScript Package Manager
19% 19
Development
0 0%
Development
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using CMake and SBT. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CMake seems to be a lot more popular than SBT. While we know about 53 links to CMake, we've tracked only 1 mention of SBT. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CMake mentions (53)

  • Master This Feature of DevEco Studio to Efficiently Implement ArkTS and C++ Glue Code
    For knowledge in this aspect, you can refer to the relevant documents of the CMake build tool: https://cmake.org/. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Creating a Native Desktop GUI Using C++ with GTK
    I used CMAKE to define the build configurations. I find it very convenient that CMAKE generates the Makefile on Linux and can also create a Visual Studio project on Windows. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Top 7 C++ Tools to explore in 2024 if it's not already the case.
    CMake stands for "Cross-platform Make" and is an open-source, platform-independent build system. It's designed to build, test, and package software projects written in C and C++, but it can also be used for other languages. Here's an overview of CMake and its features:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • My first Software Release using GitHub Release
    When doing research for this lab exercise I looked at both vcpkg and conan. Both are package managers that would automate the installation and configuration of my program with its dependencies. However, when it came to releasing and sharing my program my options were limited. For example, the central public registry for conan packages is conan-center, but these packages are curated and the process is very... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • A little help for a C++ newbie
    Install the CMake program using your system package manager, e.g. Sudo apt-get install cmake. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

SBT mentions (1)

  • Declarative Gradle is a cool thing I am afraid of: Maven strikes back
    NOTE: I won’t mention SBT and Leiningen here because, with all due respect, they are niche build tools. I also won’t discuss Kobalt for the same reason (besides, it’s no longer actively maintained). Additionally, I won’t touch upon Bazel and Buck in this context, mainly because I’m not very familiar with them. If you have insights or comments about these tools, please feel free to share them in the comments 👇. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CMake and SBT, you can also consider the following products

GNU Make - GNU Make is a tool which controls the generation of executables and other non-source files of a program from the program's source files.

SCons - SCons is an Open Source software construction tool—that is, a next-generation build tool.

Ninja Build - Ninja is a small build system with a focus on speed.

FinalBuilder - FinalBuilder is a build automation tool.

Meson - Meson is an open source build system meant to be both extremely fast, and, even more importantly...

Gradle - Accelerate developer productivity. Gradle helps teams build, automate and deliver better software, faster. DocsExplore the documentation of Gradle. Find installation ..

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