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SCons VS npm

Compare SCons VS npm and see what are their differences

SCons logo SCons

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

npm logo npm

npm is a package manager for Node.
  • SCons Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-21
  • npm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03

SCons features and specs

  • Python Integration
    SCons uses Python scripts for build configuration, which allows users to leverage the full power of Python’s capabilities, including libraries and modules, for more complex build scenarios.
  • Automatic Dependency Tracking
    SCons automatically tracks dependencies, ensuring that only the necessary parts of the project are rebuilt. This can lead to faster incremental builds and improved efficiency.
  • Cross-Platform
    SCons is cross-platform and works on various operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing a consistent build environment across different platforms.
  • Wide Range of Tools
    SCons supports a wide range of tools and compilers out-of-the-box, making it easier to configure build environments for different programming languages and technologies.
  • Extensibility
    The use of Python makes SCons highly extensible. Users can write custom build targets, scanners, and actions to suit specific project needs.

Possible disadvantages of SCons

  • Performance
    SCons can be slower than other build systems, especially for larger projects, due to the overhead of Python and its dependency scanning mechanisms.
  • Complexity
    While Python scripting offers flexibility, it can also add complexity to the build system, especially for users who are not familiar with Python programming.
  • Learning Curve
    Users new to SCons may face a steep learning curve, due to the need to understand both the build system itself and Python if they are not already familiar with it.
  • Limited IDE Integration
    SCons has limited integration with some popular IDEs compared to other build systems like CMake, which can affect the development experience for some users.
  • Smaller Community
    SCons has a smaller user base and community compared to more widely adopted build systems like CMake, which can result in fewer readily available resources, tutorials, and community support.

npm features and specs

  • Large Ecosystem
    npm boasts an extensive library of packages, making it easier for developers to find existing solutions for a wide array of tasks.
  • Active Community
    A vibrant and active community ensures continuous updates, support, and improvements for various packages.
  • Integration with Node.js
    Seamless integration with Node.js, which makes it the default package manager for Node.js projects.
  • Version Control
    Provides robust version control, enabling developers to specify and manage dependencies precisely.
  • Scripts
    Allows automation of tasks through custom scripts defined in the package.json file, enhancing development workflow.

Possible disadvantages of npm

  • Security Issues
    The open nature can potentially lead to dependency on unvetted or insecure packages, posing security risks.
  • Deprecation and Abandonment
    Packages may be deprecated or abandoned by their maintainers, which can disrupt projects that depend on them.
  • Complex Dependency Management
    Managing complex dependencies and resolving conflicts between them can sometimes be challenging and time-consuming.
  • Performance Overhead
    The sheer size of the node_modules directory can lead to performance overhead and large project sizes.
  • Quality Variability
    The quality of packages on npm can vary widely, with some lacking sufficient documentation or tests.

SCons videos

Review Scons Bañados Dia %

npm videos

Artis bus NPM Mr marcha sopir ny ramah,Review detail bus baru yang berangkat dari Payakumbuh~Jakarta

More videos:

  • Review - Review bus baru NPM,, V15 Mr marcha ft kru kece,, berangkat Payakumbuh menuju Jakarta
  • Review - Analysis of an Exploited NPM Package || Jarrod Overson

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SCons and npm)
Front End Package Manager
JS Build Tools
37 37%
63% 63
JavaScript Package Manager
Package Manager
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SCons and npm

SCons Reviews

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npm Reviews

Repository Management Tools
There are three components to npm, they are the website, registry and the cli. The npm website is the place where developers discover packages, set up their profiles and also manage the other aspects of npm. The npm registry is the huge database that contains all the dependencies and stuff whereas the npm cli is the one that is used by most of the developers to interact with...
Source: mindmajix.com
What is Artifactory?
All packages are organized so that you can keep track of all of the dependencies and their various versions. The registry, website, and command-line interface, or CLI, are the three components of npm. The npm website is where developers can find packages, create profiles, and manage other elements of the npm project. The npm registry is an extensive database that holds all...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, npm should be more popular than SCons. It has been mentiond 64 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.

SCons mentions (16)

  • Modern CMake
    Scons is very easy and readable yet very powerful. It is Python based and extensible. https://scons.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 21 days ago
  • Tired of Makefiles
    Has anyone tried SCONS? Came across someone using it in a place where I worked earlier. Python-based make-like tool. https://scons.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Show HN: Jeeves – A Pythonic Alternative to GNU Make
    The most comprehensive make alternative in python I've seen is Scons (https://scons.org/) It would be worth to see how they tackles some of the challenges you're looking into. Blurb from the website: SCons is an Open Source software construction tool. Think of SCons as an improved, cross-platform substitute for the classic Make utility with integrated functionality similar to autoconf/automake and compiler caches... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Taskfile: A Modern Alternative to Makefile
    Https://scons.org/ It has cache facility to speed up re-builds. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • What was used to build C++ programs before Cmake?
    SCons never got popular enough to escape the niches it grew up in. Source: almost 2 years ago
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npm mentions (64)

  • A Gentle Introduction to WebAssembly in Rust (2025 Edition)
    If your WASM code is self contained in Rust, you can build it in production mode and publish it on npmjs.com right now. The wasm-pack tool creates all the TypeScript types, package.json skeleton and anything else needed for a complete package. It is recommended that you review and update your package.json file prior to publishing. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Publishing To NPM For The First Time
    First, I signed up for an account on npmjs.com and authenticated my npm CLI with my account using a "publish" type access token generated from the website. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • How to Publish an npm Package
    Congratulations,now you package on npm you can check using go npmjs check your profile. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • A step-by-step guide on how to create and publish and npm package
    To begin, you will need to choose a name for your package. Note: Your package name must be unique. Using the exact or similar name of an existing package will return an error when publishing the package to npm. To ensure the uniquenesses of your package name, head over to npmjs.com and search for any existing packages with a similar name. If there’s an exact match or a similar name, consider changing the name... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Caching RESTful API requests with Heroku’s Redis Add-on
    By using Fastify, you can quickly get a Node.js application up and running to handle requests. Assuming you have Node.js installed, you’ll start by initializing a new project. We’ll use npm as our package manager. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SCons and npm, 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.

Yarn - Yarn is a package manager for your code.

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

Webpack - Webpack is a module bundler. Its main purpose is to bundle JavaScript files for usage in a browser, yet it is also capable of transforming, bundling, or packaging just about any resource or asset.

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

Brunch - Brunch builds, lints, compiles, concatenates and shrinks your HTML5 app in an ultra-simple way. No more Grunt / Gulp mess.