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qmake VS Autoconf

Compare qmake VS Autoconf and see what are their differences

qmake logo qmake

Qt 5 qmake Makefile generator tool

Autoconf logo Autoconf

GNU Autoconf is a tool for producing configure scripts for building, installing and packaging...
  • qmake Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • Autoconf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15

qmake features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    qmake is capable of generating makefiles for different platforms, making it versatile for building applications across various operating systems.
  • Integration with Qt
    As part of the Qt framework, qmake offers seamless integration and is particularly suited for projects that use Qt libraries, providing easy management of Qt-specific build rules.
  • Ease of Use
    qmake simplifies the build process with its project files (.pro) which are relatively easy to write and manage, particularly compared to other build systems like CMake.
  • Automatic Dependency Management
    qmake automatically handles dependencies among files in the project, reducing manual tracking requirements for developers.

Possible disadvantages of qmake

  • Limited Features Compared to CMake
    qmake is less feature-rich compared to more modern build systems like CMake, which offers advanced project configuration and customization options.
  • Complexity in Large Projects
    For large projects with complex build rules, qmake can become difficult to manage and may require significant manual intervention to handle non-standard build procedures.
  • Not Actively Developed
    With the advent of newer build systems, qmake has seen reduced development focus and is considered less modern compared to competitive alternatives.
  • Less Community Support
    qmake has a smaller community compared to other build systems, which can lead to fewer resources and difficulties in finding support for complex issues.

Autoconf features and specs

  • Portability
    Autoconf helps create scripts that automatically configure software to adapt to various Unix flavors and systems, enhancing portability across different environments.
  • Flexibility
    Autoconf provides a high degree of flexibility by allowing developers to customize checks and macros based on project requirements.
  • Maturity
    Being a mature tool, Autoconf has a widespread user base and an extensive set of features that have been refined over time.
  • Open Source
    Autoconf is open-source software, allowing developers to modify and improve the tool as needed, with a large community for support.

Possible disadvantages of Autoconf

  • Complexity
    Autoconf can be complex and difficult to configure, requiring a learning curve for new developers not familiar with its syntax and ecosystem.
  • Generated Scripts
    The configure scripts generated by Autoconf can become large and difficult to debug, making the build process less transparent.
  • Dependency
    Autoconf relies on other tools like M4, making it necessary to manage additional dependencies when setting up and using the tool.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running the configuration scripts can add overhead to the build process, leading to slower configuration times compared to simpler systems.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to qmake and Autoconf)
Front End Package Manager
JavaScript Package Manager
JS Build Tools
49 49%
51% 51
Continuous Integration
61 61%
39% 39

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing qmake and Autoconf, you can also consider the following products

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

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.

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

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

Gradle - Accelerate developer productivity. Gradle helps teams build, automate and deliver better software, faster. DocsExplore the documentation of Gradle. Find installation ..

Meson - Meson is an open source build system meant to be both extremely fast, and, even more importantly...