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Ninja Build VS WinPython

Compare Ninja Build VS WinPython 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.

WinPython logo WinPython

The easiest way to run Python, Spyder with SciPy and friends out of the box on any Windows PC...
  • Ninja Build Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-14
  • WinPython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18

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.

WinPython features and specs

  • Portable
    WinPython is completely portable and can be run directly from a USB device without the need for installation, making it easy to use on different machines.
  • Pre-configured Environment
    It comes with a wide range of pre-installed packages commonly used in scientific computing, data analysis, and machine learning, saving time required for setup.
  • Standalone
    It includes a standalone version of Python and can be used alongside other Python installations without conflict, allowing for multiple environments.
  • Ease of Use
    The interface is user-friendly, including a comprehensive control panel that lets users manage their packages and environment easily.
  • Open Source
    WinPython is open-source, allowing users to modify and contribute to its development, fostering a collaborative improvement route.

Possible disadvantages of WinPython

  • Windows Only
    As the name suggests, WinPython is only available for Windows users, making it irrelevant for users of other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Large Size
    The distribution is relatively large compared to other distributions, which can be a downside when dealing with limited storage or downloading bandwidth.
  • Update Management
    Managing updates for both the Python version and the individual packages can be cumbersome compared to alternatives like Anaconda, which can handle updates more seamlessly.
  • Resource Intensive
    It might consume more system resources, which can be a limitation for users working on machines with limited specifications compared to lighter setups.
  • Less Popular
    WinPython might have less community support and fewer resources available online compared to more popular distributions like Anaconda, which could be a concern for beginners seeking help.

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.

Ninja Build videos

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

WinPython videos

[ENG] Python programming 1: WinPython/Anaconda Installation

More videos:

  • Review - #1 WinPython - installing, saving & loading
  • Review - Install Python 3 in Windows 10 | Winpython best Windows Python 3 IDE for win10 win7

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ninja Build and WinPython)
Front End Package Manager
Python IDE
0 0%
100% 100
JS Build Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Ninja Build might be a bit more popular than WinPython. We know about 23 links to it since March 2021 and only 19 links to WinPython. 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 / almost 3 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: about 3 years ago
View more

WinPython mentions (19)

  • One path to connecting a Python script to a COM application on Windows
    STEP 1: Python on Windows What to install Download and install WinPython from https://winpython.github.io. I researched Python on Windows and in very short order understood that WinPython is the way to go. While itโ€™s stated audience is scientists, data scientists and education, it fully serves the needs of personal projects. Also, it is available as a portable distribution with no requirement to register with... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • qBitTorrent search plugins - portable python runtime ?
    How can I use the portable version of winpython from https://winpython.github.io to configure into qbittorrent to detect the runtime pre-requisites so that my portable qbittorent search can work? Thx in advanced. #portablepython. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What you guys use to process data? Excel? r? python?
    You equally are barred from e.g., WinPython which can work without an installation into the OS, too? Then - mechanically speaking - it wouldn't matter that the USB ports are permanently plastered with some polymer. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Jupyterlab Desktop
    Thank for answering. I understand that the interpreter situation can be annoying. There is WinPython [0] to circumvent that to some degree. I feel like if I donโ€™t do it the โ€žVSCode and py-fileโ€œ way, itโ€™ll be more and more difficult to keep everything together when teaching about modularity and putting functions in helper scripts, putting tests in other directories and such. I think itโ€™s just because I got used to... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • How to learn Python without installation
    One option would be to use a portable Python runtime. Like this one: https://winpython.github.io/. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ninja Build and WinPython, 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.

PyCharm - Python & Django IDE with intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error checking, quick-fixes, and much more...

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

Colaboratory - Free Jupyter notebook environment in the cloud.

npm - npm is a package manager for Node.

Portable Python - Minimum bare bones portable python distribution with PyScripter as development environment.