Autotools vs Bazel
Developers should learn Autotools when working on C/C++ projects that need to be distributed as source code and compiled on various Unix-like systems, such as Linux, macOS, or BSD meets developers should learn and use bazel when working on large-scale, multi-language projects that require fast, incremental builds and consistent results across different environments, such as in monorepos or distributed systems. Here's our take.
Autotools
Developers should learn Autotools when working on C/C++ projects that need to be distributed as source code and compiled on various Unix-like systems, such as Linux, macOS, or BSD
Autotools
Nice PickDevelopers should learn Autotools when working on C/C++ projects that need to be distributed as source code and compiled on various Unix-like systems, such as Linux, macOS, or BSD
Pros
- +It is essential for ensuring portability and handling system-specific differences, like library versions or compiler options, making it a standard in many legacy and open-source software builds
- +Related to: make, cmake
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Bazel
Developers should learn and use Bazel when working on large-scale, multi-language projects that require fast, incremental builds and consistent results across different environments, such as in monorepos or distributed systems
Pros
- +It is particularly valuable for teams needing reproducible builds, efficient dependency management, and support for languages like Java, C++, Python, and Go, as it reduces build times through advanced caching and parallel execution
- +Related to: starlark, build-automation
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Autotools if: You want it is essential for ensuring portability and handling system-specific differences, like library versions or compiler options, making it a standard in many legacy and open-source software builds and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Bazel if: You prioritize it is particularly valuable for teams needing reproducible builds, efficient dependency management, and support for languages like java, c++, python, and go, as it reduces build times through advanced caching and parallel execution over what Autotools offers.
Developers should learn Autotools when working on C/C++ projects that need to be distributed as source code and compiled on various Unix-like systems, such as Linux, macOS, or BSD
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev