SBT

SBT

SBT is a build tool for Scala and Java projects. It allows managing library dependencies, running tests, packaging projects, and other build-related tasks. SBT uses Scala syntax for its configuration files, making it easy to customize for Scala developers.
Development Build Tools
SBT image
scala java build-tool dependency-management testing
SBT alternatives ➤

SBT: Build Tool for Scala and Java Projects

Manage library dependencies, run tests, package projects, and more with SBT, a build tool that uses Scala syntax for easy customization.

What is SBT?

SBT (Scala Build Tool) is a popular open-source build tool specifically targeted at Scala and Java projects. It allows you to easily manage library dependencies, compile code, run tests, create JARs or WAR archives, publish artifacts to maven repositories, and various other build-related tasks.

Some key features of SBT include:

  • Incremental compilation - SBT tracks code changes and recompiles only what is needed
  • Interactive mode - Makes testing and debugging builds faster
  • Integration with Scala - Uses Scala for writing configuration files instead of XML
  • Plug-in ecosystem - Plugins allow adding new features and integrations
  • Parallel task execution - Runs independent tasks in parallel for faster builds

SBT is similar to tools like Maven or Gradle but tends to work better for Scala due to its tight integration with the language. The syntax can have a steep learning curve but also allows for very flexible and customizable builds once you understand it.

For Java and Scala projects, SBT is one of the most popular choices due to its active community, rich feature set, extensibility, and reputation for stable releases. Companies like Twitter, Foursquare, Guardian, and Apple use SBT to build their Scala and JVM applications.

SBT Features

Features

  1. Incremental compilation to avoid recompiling unchanged code
  2. Built-in support for testing frameworks like ScalaTest and JUnit
  3. Integration with Scala REPL for interactively testing code
  4. Ability to build and package projects into JARs
  5. Dependency management for automatically downloading libraries
  6. Plugin ecosystem for extending functionality
  7. Cross-platform and cross-Scala version support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Very fast incremental builds

Concise and powerful DSL for build definitions

Seamless Scala integration

Active community behind it

Highly customizable and extensible

Cons

Steep learning curve

Build files can be complex for large projects

Limited adoption outside of Scala community

Official Links

Official Website
https://www.scala-sbt.org/

The Best SBT Alternatives

Top Development and Build Tools and other similar apps like SBT

Here are some alternatives to SBT:

Maven icon
Maven
SCons icon
SCons
Gradle icon
Gradle
Buildr icon
Buildr
Qmake icon
qmake
Suggest an alternative ❐

Maven icon

Maven

Maven is a software project management and build automation tool used primarily for Java projects. It handles dependencies, builds, tests, reporting, and packaging for Java code in an automated fashion.Some key features of Maven include:Dependency Management - Maven downloads Java libraries and dependencies your project needs so you don't have...
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SCons icon

SCons

SCons is an open source software construction tool that can be used as an alternative to Make. It is used to build software applications and libraries from source code. Some key things about SCons:Written in Python and uses Python scripts for its configuration files, making SCons highly customizable and easy...
SCons image
Gradle icon

Gradle

Gradle is an open-source build automation tool focused on flexibility and performance. It builds upon the features of Apache Ant and Apache Maven, while providing a more flexible way to declare build logic through a Groovy-based domain-specific language (DSL), avoiding XML configuration.Some key features and advantages of Gradle include:Build scripts...
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Buildr icon

Buildr

Buildr is an open-source software build system and project automation tool. It is written in Ruby and is designed for building Java, C/C++, Ruby, Scala and other language projects with ease. Some key features of Buildr include:Handles compilation, packaging, testing, and deployment of software projectsCross-platform - works on Linux, macOS,...
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Qmake icon

Qmake

qmake is a cross-platform build automation and project configuration tool used primarily for projects using the Qt framework. It is part of the Qt SDK and automates the generation of Makefiles, Visual Studio project files, and other buildsystem files for building Qt applications for multiple platforms from a single configuration...
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