Side by side
Premake vs Qbs
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.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Premake offers a script-based route to generating project files across several toolsets, with extension modules for additional integrations. Check its Makefile limitation if your workflow depends on a generated install step.
Visit Premake Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2
Qbs offers a declarative way to manage builds across a broad set of documented targets, with IDE integrations and compilation database generation. Treat project generation as experimental and check platform support before adopting it.
Visit QbsThe facts
| Premake | Qbs | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | premake.github.io | doc.qt.io |
| On build automation software | #22 of 42 | #18 of 42 |
Premake: what it does well
- Free, with source code under the BSD License
- Built-in generators include Visual Studio, Xcode, and GNU Make
- Lua scripting can automate configuration tasks
- Single-file executable for Linux, macOS, and Windows
What to know first
- Generated Makefiles lack a make install step by default
- Help is directed to community Discussions and Stack Overflow
Qbs: what it does well
- Build tasks and dependencies are described declaratively.
- Supports cross-compilation and multiple documented target platforms.
- Works with Qt Creator and Visual Studio Code.
- Can generate Clang compilation databases.
What to know first
- Visual Studio and embedded project generation is experimental.
- Other UNIX-like platforms are not officially supported or regularly tested.
- Makefile generation refuses root directories containing spaces.