Software Alternatives & Startups

Ninja Build VS Mas CLI

Compare Ninja Build VS Mas CLI and see what are their differences

Ninja Build

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

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Mas CLI

Mac App Store command line interface

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Ninja Build might be a bit more popular than Mas CLI. We know about 23 links to it since March 2021 and only 16 links to Mas CLI.

social mentions
23 vs 16
Front End Package Manager popularity
64% vs 36%
alternatives listed
53 vs 27

Base details

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

Ninja Build
Mas CLI
Website ninja-build.org github.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Ninja Build 5 features
Mas CLI 4 features
  • 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
    Ninja’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

  • 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.
  • Convenience
    Mas CLI allows users to easily manage macOS App Store applications from the command line, which can be more convenient and faster for those familiar with terminal operations compared to navigating the App Store GUI.
  • Automation
    The ability to script installations and updates with Mas CLI enables automation of tasks, making it a powerful tool for system administrators and power users to manage app deployments and updates across multiple machines.
  • Efficiency
    Mas CLI can handle batch operations efficiently, allowing users to install and update multiple applications in one command, saving time and reducing manual effort.
  • Version Control
    Users can specify specific app versions to install or downgrade to desired versions, providing more control over the application's lifecycle and compatibility.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited to Mac App Store
    Mas CLI only works with applications from the macOS App Store, which means it cannot manage or manipulate applications downloaded from other sources.
  • Dependency on Mas Support
    Any changes or updates in the macOS App Store’s API or authentication methods could affect the functionality of Mas CLI, making it potentially less reliable if not frequently updated by the community.
  • Lack of GUI
    While command-line functionality can be powerful, the lack of a graphical user interface may deter users unfamiliar with terminal operations, limiting its ease of use for less technical users.
  • Feature Limitations
    Mas CLI may not support all features of the Mac App Store, such as in-app purchases, subscriptions, or interactive app handling, potentially requiring hybrid use of both CLI and GUI.

Analysis

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

Ninja Build
Mas CLI

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.

No analysis of Mas CLI yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Ninja Build 1 video + Add
Mas CLI 0 videos + Add

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

No Mas CLI videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
Ninja Build
Mas CLI
64% 64%
36% 36%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Ninja Build and Mas CLI. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Ninja Build 23 mentions
Mas CLI 16 mentions
  • 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 / about 1 year 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 / almost 3 years ago
  • Using Make – 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 / almost 3 years ago

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  • A 100x faster* alternative to homebrew
    Directory specific tools (versioned if necessary) that are managed in declarative fashion is great. I use Brewfile too. Still prefer some stuff to be managed by brew. For example the browsers, App Store apps (managed via mas[1]) [1]... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • From Fresh Mac to Productive in 30 Minutes
    I always thought Mac App Store apps couldn't be automated. Turns out, there's a tool called mas (Mac App Store CLI) that allows you to automate installation of Mac App Store apps. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Microsoft wants Windows Update to handle all apps
    MacOS has a graphical AppStore but no easy way to run an update from command line. There's third-party project - mas[1] but it's limited by Apple constantly changing APIs. [1] - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

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Alternatives to Ninja Build and Mas CLI

When comparing Ninja Build and Mas CLI, you can also consider the following products.