Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to xmake

A cross-platform build utility based on Lua

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. xmake launched in 2019; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Xmake, a modern C/C++ build utility▲186

   🔥 A cross-platform build utility based on Lua. Contribute to xmake-io/xmake development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   A Modern C/C++ build tools (Simple, Fast, Cross-platform)▲89

   A cross-platform build utility based on Lua

   2019 · xmake.io · its alternatives →

3. 3
   A cross-platform c/c++ build utility based on Lua▲10

   🔥 A cross-platform build utility based on Lua. Contribute to xmake-io/xmake development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   A make-like build utility based on Lua▲4

   makefile lua build-system cross-platform

   2017 · xmake.io · its alternatives →

5. 5
   How to use xmake to build the cross–platform c/c++ project▲17

   2017 · asciinema.org · its alternatives →

6. 6
   A make-like build utility based on Lua▲16

   🔥 A cross-platform build utility based on Lua. Contribute to xmake-io/xmake development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Electron 1.0▲647

   Build cross platform desktop apps

   2016 · electronjs.org · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Equimake▲163

   Free 3D web platform for learners & creators

   2024 · equimake.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Sidemake▲262

   Side-projects by makers with day-jobs at top tech companies.

   2018 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    ToDesktop 2.0▲380

    All in one platform for building and releasing desktop apps

    2020 · todesktop.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    LuaRT▲64

    Windows programming framework for Lua

    2022 · luart.org · its alternatives →

12. 12
    macOS-cross-compiler – Compile binaries for macOS on Linux▲215

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Ionic Platform▲288

    Build, deploy, and scale hybrid apps, the easy way

    2016 · ionic.io · its alternatives →

14. 14
    xmake-idea▲6

    xmake

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    A new hobby OS from “scratch” in C#▲310

    A multitasking monolithic Kernel based x86 targeting Operating System written in C# from scratch aiming for high-level implementation of drivers in managed environment. - amaneureka/AtomOS

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Luakernel – Lua + SQLite + musl libc running on x86▲115

    Lua + SQLite + musl libc running on x86. Contribute to ers35/luakernel development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Evolved.lua – An Evolved Entity Component System for Lua▲55

    I'm excited to announce the first release of my library, evolved.lua! evolved.lua is a fast and flexible ECS (Entity-Component-System) library for Lua. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, while providing all the features needed to create complex systems with blazing performance. Enjoy!

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18EA
    EXT – an easy way to build cross-platform desktop software▲63

    Hi HN! If you've ever tried to build a desktop app, you probably understand our frustrations with how challenging it is to build one and make it available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Even with Electron, you still have to set up your own build pipelines, updating mechanisms, code-signing, deployments, and deal with cross-platform compatibility issues. We built EXT to make building cross-platform desktop software easier! Dog-fooding our own APIs, we ported 36 initial games and utilities to the EXT store (all free), and we've open-sourced all of them: https://github.com/extpkg If…

    2024 · ext.store · its alternatives →

19. 19
    EXT▲187

    An easy way to build cross-platform desktop software.

    2024 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    DevTools-X – a cross platform alternative of devutils and devtoys▲136

    Collection of offline first developer utilities available as non-electron desktop application. all in one place, cross-platform, 10MB app! - fosslife/devtools-x

    2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Postmake – A directory of tools and resources for your projects▲197

    2019 · postmake.io · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Clx – Compile Lua to Native Executables Through C++20▲143

    Hi HN, clx is an ahead-of-time compiler for standard Lua that generates C++20 and produces standalone native executables through GCC, Clang or MSVC. The project started as an experiment to see whether modern C++ could be used as a portable compiler backend instead of LLVM or direct machine code generation. The generated code is then compiled and optimized by the host toolchain. The latest release replaces the previous NaN-tagged value representation with a new shadow-types implementation, adds full int64 support, improves native arithmetic code generation and adds ARM64 macOS coroutine…

    Jul 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Lua/LuaJIT with C/C++/Java/JavaScript syntax▲77

    Lua with C/C++/Java/Javascript syntax. Contribute to mingodad/ljs development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Yue – A new library to create cross-platform GUI apps▲104

    A library for creating native cross-platform GUI apps - yue/yue

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →