Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Xmake, a modern C/C++ build utility

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

Xmake is a build utility for C and C++ projects that provides a modern alternative to traditional build systems. It helps developers compile and manage C/C++ codebases more efficiently. The tool is designed for… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Xmake, a modern C/C++ build utility launched in 2019; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   A Modern C/C++ build tools (Simple, Fast, Cross-platform)▲89

   A cross-platform build utility based on Lua

   2019 · xmake.io · its alternatives →

2. 2
   How to use xmake to build the cross–platform c/c++ project▲17

   2017 · asciinema.org · 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
   xmake▲5

   A cross-platform build utility based on Lua

   2019 · xmake.io · its alternatives →

5. 5
   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 →

6. 6
   A make-like build utility based on Lua▲4

   makefile lua build-system cross-platform

   2017 · xmake.io · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Sidemake▲262

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

   2018 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Equimake▲163

   Free 3D web platform for learners & creators

   2024 · equimake.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   I wrote my own RTS game engine in C▲1,102

   An OpenGL RTS game engine written in C. Contribute to eduard-permyakov/permafrost-engine development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    I built a Cargo-like build tool for C/C++▲177

    I love C and C++, but setting up projects can sometimes be a pain. Every time I wanted to start something new I'd spend the first hour writing CMakeLists.txt, figuring out find_package, copying boilerplate from my last project, and googling why my library isn't linking. By the time the project was actually set up I'd lost all momentum. So, I built Craft - a lightweight build and workflow tool for C and C++. Instead of writing CMake, your project configuration goes in a simple craft.toml: [project] name = "my_app" version = "0.1.0" language = "c" c_standard = 99 [build] type = "executable"…

    Apr 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    xmake-idea▲6

    xmake

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    A work-in-progress C compiler from scratch▲159

    Programming language that compiles into a x86 ELF executable. - riicchhaarrd/ocean

    2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    I built a web framework in C▲420

    a lightweight web framework in c. Contribute to ashtonjamesd/lavandula development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    xmcp▲331

    The framework for building & shipping MCP applications

    2025 · xmcp.dev · its alternatives →

15. 15
    StdLib 1.0▲268

    Discover pre-built APIs, compose your own and build apps

    2017 · stdlib.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Postmake – A directory of tools and resources for your projects▲197

    2019 · postmake.io · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Bake – A modular build system and package manager for C/C++▲132

    Bake, A build system for building, testing and running C & C++ projects - SanderMertens/bake

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    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 →

19. 19
    A XMake integration in Sublime Text▲5

    xmake

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    ToDesktop 2.0▲380

    All in one platform for building and releasing desktop apps

    2020 · todesktop.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    xmake-vscode▲6

    xmake

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Open-lmake, a scalable, reliable build system with auto dep-tracking▲6

    Hello Hacker News, I often hear people saying "all build-systems suck", an opinion I have been sharing for years, and this is the motivation for this project. I finally got the opportunity to make it open-source, and here it is. In a few words, it is like make, except it can be comfortably used even in big projects using HPC (with millions of jobs, thousands of them running in parallel). The major differences are that: - dependencies are automatically tracked (no need to call gcc -M and the like, no need to be tailored to any specific tool, it just works) by spying disk activity - it is…

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

23. 23VL
    Vim-Like Layer for Xorg and Wayland▲148

    Create a layer of shortcuts with xkb for Xorg and Wayland

    2020 · cedaei.com · its alternatives →

24. 24XA
    Xrepo – A modern cross-platform C/C++ package manager▲55

    Naga77 menjadi pilihan gaming modern karena sistem andal hadirkan visual menarik sehingga aktivitas bermain terasa lebih bernilai konsisten sepanjang waktu Naga77.

    2020 · tboox.org · 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 →