CMake vs Automake

Struggling to choose between CMake and Automake? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

CMake is a Development solution with tags like build, compile, crossplatform, open-source.

It boasts features such as Cross-platform build system, Generate native makefiles and workspaces, Support multiple compilers and IDEs, Modular architecture, Customizable and extensible and pros including Simplifies build process across platforms, Compiler-independent builds, Large user and developer community, Widely used and well-supported, Highly customizable.

On the other hand, Automake is a Development product tagged with make, automake, build, gnu.

Its standout features include Automatically generates Makefile.am files from Makefile.in files, Supports automatic dependency tracking and parallel builds, Integrates with Autoconf to provide a full build environment, Supports various languages like C, C++, Fortran, Java, Objective-C, Handles library dependencies and subdirectories seamlessly, Allows overriding defaults and customization through config files, and it shines with pros like Saves time by automating Makefile creation, Promotes standardization and best practices for builds, Simplifies build configuration for large, complex projects, Easy to integrate with build tools like Autoconf and Libtool, Actively maintained and well-documented.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

CMake

CMake

CMake is an open-source, cross-platform tool designed to build, test, and package software. It works by generating native makefiles and workspaces to automate the build process using a compiler-independent method.

Categories:
build compile crossplatform open-source

CMake Features

  1. Cross-platform build system
  2. Generate native makefiles and workspaces
  3. Support multiple compilers and IDEs
  4. Modular architecture
  5. Customizable and extensible

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Simplifies build process across platforms

Compiler-independent builds

Large user and developer community

Widely used and well-supported

Highly customizable

Cons

Steep learning curve

Complex syntax and concepts

Poor documentation

Limited IDE integration on some platforms

Build times can be slow for large projects


Automake

Automake

Automake is a tool for automatically generating Makefile.am files that comply with the GNU coding standards. It simplifies the creation and maintenance of Makefiles for complex software projects.

Categories:
make automake build gnu

Automake Features

  1. Automatically generates Makefile.am files from Makefile.in files
  2. Supports automatic dependency tracking and parallel builds
  3. Integrates with Autoconf to provide a full build environment
  4. Supports various languages like C, C++, Fortran, Java, Objective-C
  5. Handles library dependencies and subdirectories seamlessly
  6. Allows overriding defaults and customization through config files

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Saves time by automating Makefile creation

Promotes standardization and best practices for builds

Simplifies build configuration for large, complex projects

Easy to integrate with build tools like Autoconf and Libtool

Actively maintained and well-documented

Cons

Yet another build tool to learn

Limited flexibility compared to handwritten Makefiles

Not as feature-rich as some alternatives like CMake

Requires GNU build tools and may not work on all platforms

Can have a steep learning curve