Side by side
Premake vs sbt
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 LinuxMacWindows
sbt provides Scala-based build configuration, dependency management, incremental compilation, testing, and parallel execution across major desktop operating systems. Its JDK requirement and plugin-based JUnit support are the main setup points to note.
Visit sbtThe facts
| Premake | sbt | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | 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 | scala-sbt.org |
| On build automation software | #22 of 42 | #26 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
sbt: what it does well
- Open-source and free to use
- Scala-based build definitions
- Coursier dependency management
- Incremental recompilation support
- Parallel task and test execution
What to know first
- Requires JDK 8 or later
- JUnit support requires a plugin
- Community support is directed to external channels
- No free trial is listed