Ninja

Ninja is a small, fast build system designed for speed and minimalism, primarily used to compile software projects. It focuses on executing build rules as quickly as possible by avoiding high-level features and using a simple, low-level input format. It is often used as a backend for higher-level build systems like CMake or GN to generate build files.

Also known as: ninja-build, ninja build, ninja build system, ninja tool, ninja compiler

Why learn 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. 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.

Learning Resources

• docs: Ninja Manual
• tutorial: Getting Started with Ninja
• tutorial: CMake and Ninja Tutorial
• video: Ninja Build System on YouTube