Side by side
GNU Automake vs SCons
Both stand on build automation software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Automake can reduce Makefile upkeep and provides support for tests and distribution packaging. Its Autoconf requirement and project constraints are important considerations before adopting it.
Visit GNU Automake
Choose SCons if you want an MIT-licensed build tool with Python-based configuration, dependency analysis, parallel builds and caching. It can run across the listed platforms, but build scripts run with the user's identity and the project advises treating them like other interpreted code; Windows installers and some RPM packages are no longer provided.
Visit SConsThe facts
| GNU Automake | SCons | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Not published | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | gnu.org | scons.org |
| On build automation software | #27 of 42 | #23 of 42 |
GNU Automake: what it does well
- Free, with no paid plans or usage limits stated.
- Generates GNU Coding Standards-compliant Makefile.in files.
- Supports programs, libraries, and shared libraries.
- Can package gzipped tar files and other archive formats.
What to know first
- Projects must use GNU Autoconf.
- Perl is required to generate Makefile.in files.
- Automake imposes constraints on project structure and configure.ac.
SCons: what it does well
- MIT licensed for use, modification and redistribution without charge.
- Automatically analyzes dependencies for C, C++ and Fortran.
- Supports parallel builds and caching of built files.
- Generates Microsoft Visual Studio project and solution files.
- Standalone scons-local bundles can run without installation.
What to know first
- Build scripts execute as Python code and are not sandboxed.
- Windows installers, Source RPMs and Red Hat RPMs are no longer provided.
- The current User's Guide may have missing or incorrect material.
Alternatives to GNU Automake Alternatives to SCons The whole list