Dynamic

Make vs Ninja

Developers should learn Make when working on projects that require efficient, incremental builds, such as large C/C++ applications, embedded systems, or cross-platform software, to automate repetitive compilation steps and ensure consistency meets developers should learn ninja when working on large c++ or other compiled language projects where build performance is critical, such as in game development, embedded systems, or cross-platform applications. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Make

Developers should learn Make when working on projects that require efficient, incremental builds, such as large C/C++ applications, embedded systems, or cross-platform software, to automate repetitive compilation steps and ensure consistency

Make

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Make when working on projects that require efficient, incremental builds, such as large C/C++ applications, embedded systems, or cross-platform software, to automate repetitive compilation steps and ensure consistency

Pros

  • +It is particularly useful in environments where build dependencies are complex, as it helps manage them declaratively, reducing manual errors and speeding up development cycles
  • +Related to: c, c-plus-plus

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Ninja

Developers should learn Ninja when working on large C++ or other compiled language projects where build performance is critical, such as in game development, embedded systems, or cross-platform applications

Pros

  • +It is particularly useful in continuous integration pipelines or when incremental builds need to be optimized for speed, as it reduces overhead compared to more complex build tools
  • +Related to: cmake, gn

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Make if: You want it is particularly useful in environments where build dependencies are complex, as it helps manage them declaratively, reducing manual errors and speeding up development cycles and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Ninja if: You prioritize it is particularly useful in continuous integration pipelines or when incremental builds need to be optimized for speed, as it reduces overhead compared to more complex build tools over what Make offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Make wins

Developers should learn Make when working on projects that require efficient, incremental builds, such as large C/C++ applications, embedded systems, or cross-platform software, to automate repetitive compilation steps and ensure consistency

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev