CMake AlternativesBuild Systems and other similar apps like CMake

CMake is described as 'Family of tools designed to build, test and package software. CMake is used to control the software compilation process using simple platform and compiler independent configuration files. CMake generates native makefiles and workspaces that can be used in the compiler' and is a Build System in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to CMake for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD and Self-Hosted apps. The best CMake alternative is Gradle, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like CMake are Maven, GNU Make, Premake and SCons.

More about CMake
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
CMake alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Gradle icon

    Gradle

     18 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Gradle is a build tool with a focus on build automation and support for multi-language development. If you are building, testing, publishing, and deploying software on any platform, Gradle offers a flexible model that can support the entire development lifecycle from compiling...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Android Studio
    • Eclipse
    • IntelliJ IDEA
    • Java
    • Apache NetBeans
    Gradle screenshot 1
     
    |
    8

    • Most users think Gradle is a great CMake alternative.

    • Gradle is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to CMake.

    • Gradle is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to CMake.

    • Gradle is Free and Open SourceCMake is also Free and Open Source
  2. Maven icon

    Maven

     35 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Apache Maven is a Java-based tool for build automation and project management (in software development). It is centered around a Project Object Model (POM) described in a XML file that describes the project structure and its dependencies to other components and libraries.

    31 Maven alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Maven screenshot 1
     
    |
    9
  4. GNU Make icon

    GNU Make

     23 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Make is a tool which controls the generation of executables and other non-source files of a program from the program's source files.

    38 GNU Make alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Cygwin
     
    |
    6
  5. Premake icon

    Premake

     10 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Powerfully simple build configuration

    Describe your software project just once, using Premake's simple and easy to read syntax, and build it everywhere. Generate project files for Visual Studio, GNU Make, Xcode, Code::Blocks, and more across Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Use.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
    |
    13
  6. SCons icon

    SCons

     13 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
    |
    1
    8
    Comments about SCons as an Alternative to CMake
    bdbaddog
    Positive
    0

    Very flexible. Easy to debug.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    CMake Icon
    SCons icon

    • Almost everyone thinks SCons is a great CMake alternative.

    • SCons is Free and Open SourceCMake is also Free and Open Source
  7. Meson icon

    Meson

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open source build system featuring multiplatform support, extremely fast full and incremental builds, cross-compilation for operating systems and bare metal, readable build files using a non-Turing complete DSL, and built-in dependency management.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     

  9. Ninja Build

     9 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Ninja is a small build system with a focus on speed. It differs from other build systems in two major respects: it is designed to have its input files generated by a higher-level build system, and it is designed to run builds as fast as possible.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  10. Bazel icon

    Bazel

     Like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Bazel is an open-source build and test tool similar to Make, Maven, and Gradle. It uses a human-readable, high-level build language. Bazel supports projects in multiple languages and builds outputs for multiple platforms.

    34 Bazel alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Bazel screenshot 1
     
  11. Buck icon

    Buck

     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Buck is a build system developed and used by Facebook. It encourages the creation of small, reusable modules consisting of code and resources, and supports a variety of languages on many platforms.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Buck screenshot 1
     
  12. xmake icon

    xmake

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    xmake is a cross-platform build utility based on Lua. The project focuses on making development and building easier and provides many features (e.g package, install, plugin, macro, action, option, task ...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    xmake screenshot 1
     

    • xmake is the most popular Android & iPhone alternative to CMake.

    • xmake is Free and Open SourceCMake is also Free and Open Source
  13. Ant icon

    Ant

     10 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Apache Ant is an Open Source Java-based build tool (for software development). It uses XML files to describe, structure and control the build process. Most actions are described as 'Tasks' - Ant offers a library of built-in Tasks, but various 3rd party Tasks and Task...

    35 Ant alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  14. Autoconf icon

    Autoconf

     4 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    GNU Autoconf is a tool for producing configure scripts for building, installing and packaging software on computer systems where a Bourne shell is available.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Autoconf screenshot 1
     
12 of 40 CMake alternatives