MSBuild vs Premake

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

MSBuild is a Development solution with tags like build, automation, microsoft, net.

It boasts features such as XML-based build scripts, Incremental and clean builds, NuGet package restore, Multi-targeting and multi-platform support, Extensible and customizable via tasks and pros including Integrated into Visual Studio, Cross-platform, Powerful extensibility, Wide adoption in .NET ecosystem.

On the other hand, Premake is a Development product tagged with c, crossplatform, automation.

Its standout features include Generate project files for Visual Studio, Xcode, Make and others, Support for C, C++, C#, Lua and other languages, Cross-platform build configuration, Command line and GUI interface, Extensible Lua scripting, Open source and free, and it shines with pros like Automates and simplifies project configuration, Saves time compared to manual project setup, Supports many platforms, languages and build tools, Easy to integrate into build process, Free and open source.

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.

MSBuild

MSBuild

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.

Categories:
Development Build Tools
build automation microsoft net

MSBuild Features

  1. XML-based build scripts
  2. Incremental and clean builds
  3. NuGet package restore
  4. Multi-targeting and multi-platform support
  5. Extensible and customizable via tasks

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

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

Premake

Premake

Premake is an open-source build configuration tool for C++ projects across Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It automates the generation of project files and build scripts for Make, Visual Studio, Xcode, and other build systems.

Categories:
Development Build Tools
c crossplatform automation

Premake Features

  1. Generate project files for Visual Studio, Xcode, Make and others
  2. Support for C, C++, C#, Lua and other languages
  3. Cross-platform build configuration
  4. Command line and GUI interface
  5. Extensible Lua scripting
  6. Open source and free

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Automates and simplifies project configuration

Saves time compared to manual project setup

Supports many platforms, languages and build tools

Easy to integrate into build process

Free and open source

Cons

Limited adoption outside of C/C++ projects

Steep learning curve for Lua scripting

Less flexibility than hand-written build scripts

Limited IDE integration features

Minimal documentation