Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ninja Build VS Invent With Python

Compare Ninja Build VS Invent With Python and see what are their differences

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Ninja Build logo Ninja Build

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

Invent With Python logo Invent With Python

Learn to program Python for free
  • Ninja Build Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-14
  • Invent With Python Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-05

Ninja Build features and specs

  • Speed
    Ninja is designed for high performance, making it one of the fastest build systems available. It minimizes the time spent on tasks such as parsing, dependency resolution, and build command execution.
  • Simplicity
    Ninjaโ€™s configuration syntax is straightforward and concise, reducing the complexity involved in setting up builds and allowing for a clear overview of build rules.
  • Parallelism
    Ninja excels at handling parallel builds, leveraging multiple cores effectively to decrease overall build times.
  • Incremental Builds
    Ninja efficiently handles incremental builds by only recompiling what is necessary, which significantly speeds up iterative development processes.
  • Integration
    Ninja is often used as the backend for more complex build systems (e.g., CMake), making it a versatile tool within a larger toolchain.

Possible disadvantages of Ninja Build

  • Limited Features
    Ninja is deliberately minimalist, lacking many of the features found in other build systems, such as built-in support for complex dependency management and custom build steps.
  • Learning Curve
    While Ninja itself has a simple syntax, the learning curve can be steep for those unfamiliar with how build systems work or for those coming from more feature-rich environments.
  • Dependency on Generators
    Ninja often requires an external generator (like CMake) to create its build files, which can add to the setup complexity and introduce dependencies on other tools.
  • Limited Scripting Capabilities
    Unlike some build systems that offer extensive scripting support (e.g., Python in SCons), Ninja's functionality is largely limited to what its syntax and predefined rules allow.
  • Less Flexibility
    Due to its minimalist nature, Ninja may not be as flexible as other build systems, potentially limiting its use in more complex or unusual build scenarios.

Invent With Python features and specs

  • Beginner-Friendly
    Invent With Python offers a gentle introduction to programming for beginners, using engaging and straightforward examples that make learning fun and approachable.
  • Free Resources
    The website provides free access to its content, including complete books, which removes financial barriers for learners and educators looking for quality programming materials.
  • Hands-On Projects
    The site emphasizes learning by doing, with numerous hands-on projects and exercises that help learners apply concepts in practical scenarios.
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
    Each project and concept is broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions, making it easier for learners to follow along and understand complex ideas.
  • Wide Range of Topics
    The site covers a diverse array of programming topics, from basic syntax to more advanced concepts, catering to a broad audience with varying levels of experience.

Possible disadvantages of Invent With Python

  • Limited Advanced Content
    While great for beginners, the website may not offer enough depth or advanced content for more experienced programmers looking to deepen their knowledge.
  • Python-Focused
    The resources are primarily focused on Python, which might not be as useful for learners who want to explore other programming languages or languages more commonly used in certain industries.
  • Self-Paced Learning Challenges
    Self-paced learning requires a high level of self-motivation and discipline, which can be challenging for some learners who might benefit from more structured environments or instructor-led courses.
  • Lack of Interactive Features
    The website's content is predominantly in book format, which may lack the interactive elements and immediate feedback found in other online learning platforms that support coding sandboxes or quizzes.

Analysis of Ninja Build

Overall verdict

  • Ninja Build is considered a strong choice for users seeking a fast, reliable, and efficient build system. Its simplicity and focus on performance make it appealing to developers working on projects where build speed is critical.

Why this product is good

  • Ninja Build is a high-performance build system designed to handle complex build processes efficiently. It is known for its minimalistic yet powerful design, which allows for faster build times compared to traditional build systems like Make. Its approach to dependency tracking and parallelism is optimized for modern build environments, making it suitable for large codebases and incremental builds.

Recommended for

    Ninja Build is recommended for developers working on large-scale projects with complex build processes, particularly in environments where build speed and efficiency are prioritized. It is especially beneficial for projects that are continuously integrated or require frequent incremental builds.

Analysis of Invent With Python

Overall verdict

  • Invent With Python is a highly recommended resource for beginners who want to learn Python effectively through practical exercises and easy-to-follow instructions.

Why this product is good

  • Invent With Python is widely regarded as a good resource because it provides clear, beginner-friendly tutorials and projects tailored to those new to programming. The materials are structured in a way that makes learning Python engaging and fun, focusing on hands-on projects that reinforce concepts. The website is created by Al Sweigart, a well-known author in the programming community, whose books are valued for their clarity and practicality.

Recommended for

  • Beginners in programming
  • Individuals interested in learning Python
  • Hobbyists looking to build practical projects
  • Students needing a supplementary learning resource
  • Educators seeking teaching materials for Python

Ninja Build videos

FORTNITE STW: HERE IS THE BEST NINJA BUILD (AFTER MONTHS OF TESTING)

Invent With Python videos

No Invent With Python videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ninja Build and Invent With Python)
Front End Package Manager
Education
0 0%
100% 100
JS Build Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Game Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Invent With Python should be more popular than Ninja Build. It has been mentiond 141 times since March 2021. 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.

Ninja Build mentions (23)

  • CMake Made Simple: A Reusable Template for Your First C++ Project
    On Windows, download the binaries from the cmake and Ninja websites. After that, add the executables to your PATH. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • TypeScript's Successor is Waiting, and You'll Never Want to Turn Back
    Under the hood, Rescript uses a build system called Ninja. Ninja is similar to Make, but cross-platform and more minimal/performant. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Using Make โ€“ writing less Makefile
    Ninja was super easy to pick up even after using make for some time (10+ years). GN is just a ninja generator that is optional. https://gn.googlesource.com/gn/+/main/docs/quick_start.md https://ninja-build.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What outdated tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?
    Really? I thought most new projects were switching to ninja[^1] and have never used it. [^1]: https://ninja-build.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • What was used to build C++ programs before Cmake?
    Ninja showed real promise for a while, but then CMake grew up and people stopped seeing a reason to leave it behind. Source: almost 3 years ago
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Invent With Python mentions (141)

  • Free Python Resources
    Created by Al Sweigart, author of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Invent with Python aims to make programming accessible, approachable, and fun, using Python as a powerful and beginner-friendly language. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Courses/Resources to prepare a 12 year old for the future of Coding/AI.
    Not courses, but Al Sweigart's "Invent with Python" are excellent. (The two games books and code cracking are excellent to start with.) Https://inventwithpython.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Books for a young person to learn how to code with Raspberry Pi
    Check /u/alsweigart' s books on Automate the Boring Stuff with Python and on Invent your own Computer Games with Python. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • 2,000 free sign ups available for the "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" online course. (July 2023)
    This Udemy course covers roughly the same content as the 1st edition book (the book has a little bit more, but all the basics are covered in the online course), which you can read for free online at https://inventwithpython.com. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What is a good way for non-creatives to express creativity in a way that feels comfortable to them?
    I also consider computer programming to be very creative. You may wish to learn the Python language. Python is a great starting language and very practical. There's some excellent free books here https://inventwithpython.com/ His book Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is very practical with real world uses. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ninja Build and Invent With Python, 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.

Scratch - Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.

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

One Month Python - Learn to build Django apps in just one month.

npm - npm is a package manager for Node.

CodeCombat - Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game.