cachepot

Cachepot is a free, open-source compiler cache for developers and build teams that want to reuse compilation results across local and remote builds. Its broad compiler and storage support is useful, but its archived status makes it a poor default for a new long-term deployment.

Overview

Cachepot avoids recompilation when it can reuse a previous result, storing outputs on local disk or in remote storage. It also supports icecream-style distributed compilation and can package local toolchains automatically. That makes it relevant to teams with varied build environments, provided they can accept the maintenance risk of relying on a repository archived on February 28, 2023 and superseded by upstream sccache.

Key features

Compiler and build support

Supported compilers include GCC, Clang, MSVC, rustc, NVCC, and Wind River Diab. Cachepot documents use with Cargo, CMake, GNU make, Jenkins, GitLab CI, and Concourse CI. This range can suit teams applying caching across multiple toolchains, though it does not remove compiler- or build-specific constraints.

Rust users face two concrete limits: crates that invoke the system linker and incrementally compiled crates cannot be cached. Cache hits also require matching absolute file paths, including paths to third-party crates in Cargo’s default registry cache. Teams whose build paths vary between machines may therefore miss cache opportunities.

Storage and distributed builds

Storage backends include local disk, S3, Redis, Memcached, Google Cloud Storage, and Azure Blob Storage. The default local cache is 10 gigabytes, configurable through CACHEPOT_CACHE_SIZE. The choice of backends is a strength for teams able to operate or configure their own storage, but this is not a hosted service with managed plans.

For distributed compilation, the project describes authentication, transport encryption, and sandboxed compiler execution on build servers. Its threat model supports bubblewrap or Docker sandboxing and prefers bubblewrap. However, server-side hash verification is marked as a hardening goal rather than a completed safeguard. The GitLab guide also warns that compilation output can expose data from the execution environment, so CI secrets should not be treated as secret from that output.

Pricing

Cachepot is free open-source software under Apache-2.0, with no hosted plans. Its Open-source software plan costs nothing. The cost advantage comes with self-management: teams must arrange their own local or remote storage and build infrastructure.

Platforms

Cachepot supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted use. That breadth is useful for mixed-platform teams, although consistent absolute paths remain important for cache hits.

Who it's for

Cachepot is best suited to teams with existing workflows built around its supported compilers and build systems, especially those that can self-host storage and distributed build infrastructure. It is less suitable for new pipelines where ongoing maintenance, Rust cache coverage, or protection of CI environment data is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad compiler support and multiple local and cloud storage backends can serve varied build environments.
• Pros: Automatic toolchain packaging for distributed compilation can reduce the setup burden for remote workers.
• Cons: The archived repository and upstream successor make it a risky foundation for a new long-lived deployment.
• Cons: Rust linker, incremental compilation, and path-matching constraints limit which builds can benefit from caching.
• Cons: The documented hash-verification gap and GitLab warning require care around remote build security and CI secrets.

Alternatives

Build Cache Software is a useful starting point for comparing tools in this category. Choose Ccache for a free, open-source compiler cache when its single-file compilation model and compiler-flag fallbacks fit your build needs. Bitrise is worth considering when a freemium service with a free plan and build credits for a small project a few times per month better fits your workflow.

For a free remote-caching setup limited to one machine, 32 CPU cores, and Linux, EngFlow Remote Caching offers a defined free tier, with custom pricing for Enterprise. FosterStack provides a full self-hosted cache server on its free plan, while its Team plan costs $49 a month. NativeLink is another free self-hosted option, with a distributed scheduler and remote caching across build systems and major cloud providers. bazel-remote is a free, self-hosted cache whose size is configurable. BuildFetch Cache offers a free plan with 20GB fast cache storage, 50GB network traffic, 100,000 cache requests, and 45 days of LRU retention. MozJPEG is a free open-source JPEG encoder library rather than a compiler cache.

Verdict

Choose Cachepot if you need its broad compiler and storage coverage in an existing self-hosted build setup and can manage its constraints. Its strongest reason to choose it is the combination of distributed compilation and backend flexibility; its archived status, Rust limitations, and security caveats are strong reasons to look elsewhere for a new deployment.