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GNU Make VS ccache

Compare GNU Make VS ccache and see what are their differences

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.

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0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
c
ccache

Cache for C/C++ that speeds up recompiles

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OutageDeck
Check the cloud and SaaS vendors your product depends on without opening every status page. Official-source timelines, observed uptime history, and alerts to email, Slack, Teams, Discord, or webhooks. Five-provider email alerts are free. sponsored

Which is more popular?

JS Build Tools popularity
92% vs 8%
alternatives listed
98 vs 1

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

GNU Make
c
ccache
Website gnu.org ccache.samba.org
Listed in
Front End Package Manager JavaScript Package Manager JS Build Tools Package Manager +1
Front End Package Manager JavaScript Package Manager JS Build Tools DevOps Tools +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GNU Make 5 features
c
ccache 0 features
  • Portability
    GNU Make is highly portable and can be used across various Unix-like operating systems as well as on Windows.
  • Dependency Management
    It efficiently handles complex dependencies between various parts of the software, ensuring that changes are propagated properly.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, GNU Make is freely available and can be modified according to user needs.
  • Wide Adoption
    It is widely adopted in the industry, which means that there is extensive documentation and a large community for support.
  • Efficiency
    GNU Make speeds up the build process by only recompiling the necessary parts of the codebase.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Syntax
    The syntax of GNU Makefiles can become very complex, especially for large projects, making them hard to read and maintain.
  • Limited Cross-Platform Scripting
    While the tool itself is cross-platform, Makefiles can sometimes include shell commands that are not portable.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Beginners may find it challenging to grasp the concepts and syntax of GNU Make, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    Debugging Makefiles can be difficult, with limited tools available to trace or step through the make process.
  • Performance Bottlenecks
    For extremely large projects, performance can become an issue, as the evaluation of dependencies might become slow.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

GNU Make
c
ccache

Overall verdict

  • Yes, GNU Make is a robust and reliable tool for managing build processes. Its long-established reputation and widespread use in both open-source and commercial projects underline its effectiveness and flexibility.

Why this product is good

  • GNU Make is widely used because it automates the build process, efficiently handling dependencies and detecting minimal sets of changes in source files. It is highly customizable, supports non-recursive builds, and integrates well into various development environments.

Recommended for

  • Software developers working on C/C++ projects
  • Teams looking to automate build processes
  • Projects that require cross-platform build capabilities
  • Developers who prefer command-line tools
  • Open-source project maintainers

Overall verdict

  • Yes, ccache is a solid, mature tool that significantly speeds up recompilation of C/C++ code by caching previous compilation results, making it a highly recommended addition to most build workflows.

Why this product is good

  • Dramatically reduces compile times by reusing previously compiled object files when source code hasn't meaningfully changed
  • Works transparently as a wrapper around GCC, Clang, and other compilers with minimal configuration
  • Mature, stable, and actively maintained project with a long track record in production use
  • Supports both local disk caching and cloud/network cache sharing for team or CI environments
  • Highly configurable cache size, compression, and storage location to fit different project needs
  • Integrates easily with build systems like Make, CMake, and Ninja
  • Open source and free to use with broad platform support (Linux, macOS, Windows)

Recommended for

  • Developers working on large C/C++ codebases with frequent rebuilds
  • Teams wanting to speed up continuous integration (CI) pipelines
  • Projects with repetitive build cycles during iterative development
  • Organizations sharing build caches across multiple developers or build servers
  • Embedded systems or kernel developers who frequently recompile large trees
  • Anyone looking to reduce compute costs and developer wait time during builds

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GNU Make 0 videos + Add
c
ccache 3 videos + Add

No GNU Make videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Compile with ccache - Gentoo Linux

More videos

  • - Talk: Compiler Wrapper Review aka Alternativen zu icecc und ccache (joke)
  • - kamera ccache.super

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
GNU Make
c
ccache
92% 92%
JS Build Tools
8% 8%
89% 89%
JavaScript Package Manager
11% 11%
91% 91%
Front End Package Manager
9% 9%
0% 0%
DevOps Tools
100% 100%

User comments

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