sbt
sbt (Scala Build Tool) is an open-source build tool for Scala and Java projects, designed to manage dependencies, compile code, run tests, and package applications. It uses a domain-specific language (DSL) based on Scala for configuration and supports incremental compilation and parallel task execution to improve build performance. sbt is widely used in the Scala ecosystem and integrates with tools like ScalaTest and Akka.
Developers should learn sbt when working on Scala or mixed Scala/Java projects, as it is the de facto standard build tool in the Scala community, offering features like hot reloading for development and seamless dependency management via Ivy. It is essential for building scalable applications, such as those using the Play Framework or Apache Spark, where efficient build processes and integration with Scala-specific libraries are critical.