Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Distcc VS cabal

Compare Distcc VS cabal and see what are their differences

Distcc logo Distcc

GitHub is where people build software. More than 27 million people use GitHub to discover, fork, and contribute to over 75 million projects.

cabal logo cabal

Experimental p2p community chat platform.
  • Distcc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02
  • cabal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21

Distcc features and specs

  • Parallel Compilation
    Distcc allows distributed compilation of C, C++, and Objective-C code, enabling the use of multiple machines to speed up the build process significantly.
  • Scalability
    The system can easily be scaled by adding more machines, which allows for handling larger projects or reducing build times with minimal configuration effort.
  • Resource Utilization
    It optimizes the use of available computing resources by offloading tasks to less busy or more powerful machines, leading to more efficient compilation.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Distcc can be used on various operating systems, including Unix-like systems and Windows, offering flexibility in mixed-environment setups.
  • Ease of Integration
    As a compiler wrapper, Distcc can be integrated with existing build systems such as Make, CMake, and others with minimal changes needed.

Possible disadvantages of Distcc

  • Network Dependency
    Performance is heavily dependent on network reliability and speed, as source files and object files are transferred between client and server machines.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up Distcc requires precise configuration, including managing different compiler versions across machines, which can be challenging in heterogeneous environments.
  • Security Concerns
    Without proper security measures, there is a risk of exposing sensitive data or code to untrusted machines, especially if Distcc is used over a public network.
  • Limited Error Handling
    Troubleshooting errors can be difficult because logs and errors might be scattered across different machines, making it hard to diagnose compilation issues.
  • Inefficiency for Small Builds
    For small codebases or projects with minimal compilation times, the overhead of distributing jobs may outweigh the benefits of parallel compilation.

cabal features and specs

  • Decentralization
    Cabal operates as a decentralized communications platform, meaning it does not rely on centralized servers, which increases resilience and privacy.
  • Privacy
    Due to its peer-to-peer nature, Cabal enhances user privacy by not requiring users to log or expose their communications to a third-party server.
  • Open Source
    Cabal is open-source, allowing users to inspect, modify, and contribute to the codebase, fostering transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • Local-first Functionality
    Cabal emphasizes offline, local-first operations where users can maintain access to data and functionality without continuous internet connection.

Possible disadvantages of cabal

  • Network Complexity
    As a decentralized platform, setting up and managing a Cabal network may present challenges for less technically inclined users.
  • Limited User Base
    Being a niche project, Cabal may have a smaller user community compared to mainstream communication platforms, potentially affecting support and development.
  • Feature Set
    Cabal's feature set may be limited compared to more established communication platforms, lacking some advanced functionalities that users expect.
  • Adoption Barrier
    The requirement for peers to connect directly might pose a barrier to adoption compared to centralized alternatives that offer easier onboarding.

Distcc videos

Quick and dirty Distcc setup tutorial: Part 1

More videos:

cabal videos

Who Remembers Cabal Online? | MMORPG Nostalgia!

More videos:

  • Review - Cabal Online Gameplay First Look HD
  • Review - Dead Man's Cabal Review with Tom Vasel

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Distcc and cabal)
JS Build Tools
63 63%
37% 37
JavaScript Package Manager
Front End Package Manager
Package Manager
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Distcc and cabal, 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.

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

SBT - SBT is a build tool for Scala, like Ant or Maven but with hieroglyphics.

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

Leiningen - Leiningen: automating Clojure projects

A-A-P - Other Continuous Delivery