CMake vs Meson

Struggling to choose between CMake and Meson? 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, Meson is a Development product tagged with build-system, compiler, open-source.

Its standout features include Fast build times, Intuitive syntax, Cross-platform support, Integration with popular build tools and languages, Dependency management, Support for tests and benchmarks, Customizable build configuration, and it shines with pros like Very fast compared to other build systems, Simple configuration using Python DSL, Easy to use and learn, Detects changes quickly to avoid unnecessary rebuilds, Good error messages, Lightweight with few dependencies.

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:
Development Build Tools
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

Meson

Meson

Meson is an open-source build system focused on speed and ease of use. It is designed to optimize the build process by detecting changes in projects faster and providing useful error messages. Meson supports many languages and build tools.

Categories:
Development Build Tools
build-system compiler open-source

Meson Features

  1. Fast build times
  2. Intuitive syntax
  3. Cross-platform support
  4. Integration with popular build tools and languages
  5. Dependency management
  6. Support for tests and benchmarks
  7. Customizable build configuration

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Very fast compared to other build systems

Simple configuration using Python DSL

Easy to use and learn

Detects changes quickly to avoid unnecessary rebuilds

Good error messages

Lightweight with few dependencies

Cons

Limited adoption outside C/C++ projects

Less flexibility than some other build tools

Lacks some advanced features of tools like CMake

Less third-party integration compared to older systems