GNU Make vs MSBuild

Struggling to choose between GNU Make and MSBuild? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

GNU Make is a Development solution with tags like build, automation, make, compiler.

It boasts features such as Dependency tracking - Automatically determines dependencies between files, Parallel builds - Can build independent targets simultaneously, Built-in functions - Many built-in functions for common build tasks, Recursive builds - Can build targets in subdirectories recursively, Pattern rules - General rules can be applied based on pattern matching, Conditionals - Supports if/else conditionals in makefiles and pros including Widely used and well-supported, Mature and stable, Powerful dependency tracking, Built-in parallelism, Portable across platforms, Integrates well with other tools.

On the other hand, MSBuild is a Development product tagged with build, automation, microsoft, net.

Its standout features include XML-based build scripts, Incremental and clean builds, NuGet package restore, Multi-targeting and multi-platform support, Extensible and customizable via tasks, and it shines with pros like Integrated into Visual Studio, Cross-platform, Powerful extensibility, Wide adoption in .NET ecosystem.

Feature	GNU Make	MSBuild
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Development

Product Overview

GNU Make

Description: GNU Make is a utility that automatically builds executable programs and libraries from source code by reading files called Makefiles which specify how to derive the target program. It allows users to easily compile large projects without manually issuing the compilation commands.

MSBuild

Description: MSBuild is an XML-based build automation tool developed by Microsoft. It is used to build applications and solutions across various .NET languages and platforms like .NET Framework, .NET Core, and Mono. MSBuild handles project builds, clean builds, packaging, publishing, and more.

Key Features Comparison

GNU Make Features

• Dependency tracking - Automatically determines dependencies between files
• Parallel builds - Can build independent targets simultaneously
• Built-in functions - Many built-in functions for common build tasks
• Recursive builds - Can build targets in subdirectories recursively
• Pattern rules - General rules can be applied based on pattern matching
• Conditionals - Supports if/else conditionals in makefiles

MSBuild Features

• XML-based build scripts
• Incremental and clean builds
• NuGet package restore
• Multi-targeting and multi-platform support
• Extensible and customizable via tasks

Pros & Cons Analysis

GNU Make

Pros

• Widely used and well-supported
• Mature and stable
• Powerful dependency tracking
• Built-in parallelism
• Portable across platforms
• Integrates well with other tools

Cons

• Cryptic syntax
• Difficult for complex builds
• Only rebuilds out-of-date targets
• Not suitable for all project types
• Limited to makefile build process

MSBuild

Pros

• Integrated into Visual Studio
• Cross-platform
• Powerful extensibility
• Wide adoption in .NET ecosystem

Cons

• XML build scripts can be verbose
• Steep learning curve
• Not as fast as other build tools

Pricing Comparison

GNU Make

• Open Source

MSBuild

• Free
• Open Source