Build Automation Tools
A list of tools that automate software build processes. Compare major build tools like Maven, Gradle, and Webpack.
| No | Name | Description | Trend | License | Language | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apache Maven | Automated build tool for Java. XML-based configuration for project lifecycle management, automating compilation, testing, packaging, and deployment. | Established position as standard build tool for Java development. Market share declining in new projects due to Gradle rise, but continues in legacy projects. | Apache 2.0 | Java | Official |
| 2 | Gradle | Build tool based on Groovy/Kotlin, emerged as Maven successor. Combines flexibility and high performance, standard tool for Android development. | Rapidly expanding adoption in modern Java and Android development. High selection rate in new projects due to fast builds and script flexibility. | Apache 2.0 | Java Kotlin Groovy | Official |
| 3 | Webpack | Module bundler for JavaScript. Bundles multiple files into one and performs optimization. Standard in modern frontend development with React, Vue.js. | De facto standard in frontend development. Despite rise of next-generation tools like Vite and Parcel, remains important for complex configuration capabilities. | MIT | JavaScript | Official |
| 4 | Vite | High-speed frontend development tool. Provides fast development server using ES modules and fast builds based on Rollup. | Developed by Vue.js creator, rapidly adopted by frontend developers for its speed. Attracting attention as next-generation tool solving Webpack complexity. | MIT | JavaScript TypeScript | Official |
| 5 | Grunt | JavaScript task runner. Defines tasks with JSON configuration, automating file compression, compilation, testing. Currently being replaced by other tools. | Played important role as early JavaScript build tool, but usage significantly decreased with emergence of webpack and gulp. | MIT | JavaScript | Official |
| 6 | Gulp | Code-based task runner. Achieves fast builds through streaming processing. More intuitive and flexible task definition than Grunt. | Migration from Grunt progressed for a time, but usage frequency declining due to adoption of integrated tools like webpack and Vite. | MIT | JavaScript | Official |
| 7 | CMake | Cross-platform build tool. Specialized in build system generation for C/C++ projects. Supports complex project configurations. | Established as standard build tool in C/C++ development. Widely adopted from open source projects to commercial products. | BSD | C C++ | Official |
| 8 | GNU Make | Traditional build tool for Unix-like systems. Manages file dependencies according to rules described in Makefile, building only necessary parts. | Continues to be used in many projects as historical tool. Low learning cost due to simple mechanism, valued in small-scale projects. | GPL v3 | C Unix Shell | Official |
| 9 | Bazel | Build tool for large-scale projects developed by Google. Achieves fast builds even for large codebases through incremental and distributed builds. | Open source version of tool used internally at Google. Increasing adoption in large enterprises, but high learning cost is a challenge. | Apache 2.0 | Multi-language | Official |
| 10 | MSBuild | Microsoft's build platform for .NET. Integrated with Visual Studio, functions as standard build tool for .NET projects. | Essential tool in .NET development. Cross-platform support with .NET Core made it available on non-Windows environments. | MIT | C# .NET | Official |