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Quick Overview
SCons is an open-source software construction tool and build system written in Python. It serves as an alternative to traditional build tools like Make, offering a more flexible and powerful approach to building software projects. SCons uses Python scripts for configuration, allowing for complex build processes to be defined programmatically.
Pros
- Cross-platform compatibility, working on Unix, Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Automatic dependency analysis, reducing the need for manual management
- Highly extensible through Python scripting
- Built-in support for various programming languages and compilers
Cons
- Steeper learning curve compared to simpler build systems
- Can be slower for large projects compared to some alternatives
- Less widespread adoption compared to Make or CMake
- Documentation can be overwhelming for beginners
Code Examples
- Basic SConstruct file for compiling a C++ program:
Program('hello.cpp')
This simple example compiles a C++ program named "hello.cpp" into an executable.
- Compiling multiple source files:
source_files = Glob('*.cpp')
Program('my_program', source_files)
This example compiles all .cpp files in the current directory into a single executable named "my_program".
- Custom build environment:
env = Environment(CC='clang', CCFLAGS=['-Wall', '-O2'])
env.Program('my_program', ['main.cpp', 'utils.cpp'])
This example creates a custom build environment using the Clang compiler with specific flags, then compiles two source files into an executable.
Getting Started
-
Install SCons:
pip install scons -
Create a file named
SConstructin your project directory:Program('hello.cpp') -
Run SCons:
scons
This will compile hello.cpp into an executable. Modify the SConstruct file to suit your project's needs.
Competitor Comparisons
Python-based continuous integration testing framework; your pull requests are more than welcome!
Pros of Buildbot
- Distributed architecture for scalable build and test automation
- Supports multiple platforms and programming languages
- Extensive plugin system for customization and integration
Cons of Buildbot
- Steeper learning curve and more complex setup
- Requires more resources to run and maintain
- Less suitable for simple, single-project builds
Code Comparison
Buildbot configuration (Python):
c['builders'] = []
factory = util.BuildFactory()
factory.addStep(steps.Git(repourl='git://example.com/foo/bar.git', mode='full'))
factory.addStep(steps.ShellCommand(command=["make", "all"]))
c['builders'].append(
util.BuilderConfig(name="runtests", workernames=["example-worker"], factory=factory))
SCons build script (Python):
env = Environment()
env.Program('hello', 'hello.c')
env.Install('/usr/local/bin', 'hello')
env.Alias('install', '/usr/local/bin')
Both Buildbot and SCons use Python for configuration, but Buildbot focuses on continuous integration and distributed builds, while SCons is primarily a build system for compiling and linking software projects.
Adaptable, fast automation for all
Pros of Gradle
- Faster build times for large projects due to incremental builds and parallel execution
- Extensive plugin ecosystem and integration with popular IDEs
- Flexible and expressive DSL based on Groovy or Kotlin
Cons of Gradle
- Steeper learning curve, especially for developers new to Groovy or Kotlin
- Can be memory-intensive for complex builds
- Configuration can become complex for large projects
Code Comparison
SCons:
env = Environment()
env.Program(target='hello', source=['hello.c'])
Gradle:
plugins {
id 'c'
}
model {
components {
hello(NativeExecutableSpec)
}
}
Both SCons and Gradle are powerful build automation tools, but they cater to different needs and preferences. SCons uses Python for its configuration, making it more accessible to Python developers, while Gradle offers a more feature-rich environment with its DSL and plugin system. SCons is generally simpler to set up for small to medium-sized projects, whereas Gradle shines in large, complex projects with its advanced features and ecosystem support.
Apache Maven core
Pros of Maven
- Widely adopted in the Java ecosystem with extensive plugin ecosystem
- Declarative dependency management with transitive dependencies
- Standardized project structure and build lifecycle
Cons of Maven
- XML-based configuration can be verbose and complex
- Less flexible for non-Java projects or custom build processes
- Steeper learning curve for newcomers compared to SCons
Code Comparison
Maven (pom.xml):
<project>
<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
<groupId>com.example</groupId>
<artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
<version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
</project>
SCons (SConstruct):
env = Environment()
env.Program(target='my_program', source=['main.cpp', 'helper.cpp'])
Maven uses XML for project configuration, while SCons employs Python for build scripts. Maven's approach is more declarative, whereas SCons offers more programmatic flexibility. Maven's XML can be more verbose, but it provides a standardized structure. SCons' Python-based configuration allows for more concise and dynamic build definitions, but may require more custom scripting for complex projects.
a small build system with a focus on speed
Pros of ninja
- Extremely fast build times, especially for incremental builds
- Low memory footprint
- Simple and straightforward configuration syntax
Cons of ninja
- Less flexible and feature-rich compared to SCons
- Requires a separate build file generator for complex projects
- Limited built-in functionality for cross-platform builds
Code Comparison
ninja build file:
rule cc
command = gcc -c $in -o $out
build foo.o: cc foo.c
SCons build file:
env = Environment()
env.Program('foo', 'foo.c')
The ninja build file is more explicit and low-level, while the SCons file is more abstract and relies on built-in knowledge of how to build programs. ninja's approach offers more control but requires more detailed configuration, whereas SCons provides a higher-level interface that can be easier to use for simple projects but may be less flexible for complex builds.
The Meson Build System
Pros of Meson
- Faster build times due to its optimized design and use of Ninja backend
- Simpler syntax and easier learning curve for new users
- Better cross-platform support, especially for Windows
Cons of Meson
- Less flexibility and customization options compared to SCons
- Smaller ecosystem and fewer third-party extensions
- Limited support for older compilers and systems
Code Comparison
Meson build file example:
project('myproject', 'c')
executable('myapp', 'main.c')
SCons build file example:
env = Environment()
env.Program('myapp', 'main.c')
Summary
Meson offers faster build times and a simpler syntax, making it more accessible for newcomers. However, SCons provides greater flexibility and a more extensive ecosystem. Meson excels in cross-platform support, particularly for Windows, while SCons has better compatibility with older systems. The choice between the two depends on project requirements, team expertise, and desired build system complexity.
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SCons - a Software Construction Tool ####################################
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What is SCons?
SCons is an Open Source software construction tool which orchestrates the construction of software (and other tangible products such as documentation files) by determining which component pieces must be built or rebuilt and invoking the necessary commands to build them.
Features:
- Configuration files are Python scripts - use the power of a real programming language to solve build problems; no complex domain-specific language to learn.
- Reliable, automatic dependency analysis built-in for C, C++ and FORTRAN. No more "make depend" or "make clean" to get all of the dependencies. Dependency analysis is easily extensible through user-defined dependency Scanners for other languages or file types.
- Built-in support for C, C++, D, Java, FORTRAN, Yacc, Lex, Qt and SWIG, and building TeX and LaTeX documents. Easily extensible through user-defined Builders for other languages or file types.
- Building from central repositories of source code and/or pre-built targets.
- Built-in support for Microsoft Visual Studio, including generation of .dsp, .dsw, .sln and .vcproj files.
- Reliable detection of build changes using cryptographic hashes; optionally can configure other algorithms including traditional timestamps.
- Support for parallel builds - can keep multiple jobs running simultaneously regardless of directory hierarchy.
- Integrated Autoconf-like support for finding #include files, libraries, functions and typedefs.
- Global view of all dependencies - no more multiple build passes or reordering targets to build everything.
- Ability to share built files in a cache to speed up multiple builds.
- Designed from the ground up for cross-platform builds, and known to work on Linux, other POSIX systems (including AIX, BSD systems, HP/UX, IRIX and Solaris), Windows 7/8/10, MacOS, and OS/2.
- Written in Python.
Documentation
Documentation for SCons is available at http://www.scons.org/documentation.html.
Latest Version
If you already have SCons installed, you can check that the package you have
is the latest version at the
SCons download page <https://www.scons.org/pages/download.html>_.
Execution Requirements
Running SCons requires Python 3.6 or higher. There should be no other dependencies or requirements to run standard SCons. The last release to support Python 3.5 was 4.2.0.
Some experimental features may require additional Python packages
to be installed - at the moment the Ninja feature requires the
supporting ninja package <https://pypi.org/project/ninja/>_.
The default SCons configuration assumes use of the Microsoft Visual C++
compiler suite on Win32 systems, and assumes a C compiler named cc, a C++
compiler named c++, and a FORTRAN compiler named gfortran (such as found
in the GNU Compiler Collection) on any other type of system. You may
override these default values by appropriate configuration of variables
in a Construction Environment, or in the case of Cygwin on a Win32 system,
by selecting the 'cygwin' platform, which will set some of those Construction
Variables for you.
By default, SCons knows how to search for available programming tools on
various systems - see the
SCons man page <https://scons.org/doc/production/HTML/scons-man.html>_
for details. You can override
the default SCons choices made by appropriate configuration of
construction variables.
Installation Requirements
SCons has no installation dependencies beyond a compatible version of Python. The tools which will be used to actually construct the project, such as compilers, documentation production tools, etc. should of course be installed by the appropriate means.
Installation
The preferred way to install SCons is through the Python installer, pip
(or equivalent alternatives, such as the Anaconda installer, conda).
You can install either from a wheel package or from the source directory.
To work on a project that builds using SCons, installation lets you
just use scons as a command and not worry about things. In this
case, we usually suggest using a virtualenv, to isolate the Python
environment to that project
(some notes on that:
Python Packaging User Guide: Creating and using virtual environments <https://packaging.python.org/guides/installing-using-pip-and-virtual-environments/#creating-a-virtual-environment>_).
Some installation examples::
# to do a system-level install:
$ python -m pip install --user scons
# Windows variant, assuming Python Launcher:
C:\Users\me> py -m pip install --user scons
# inside a virtualenv it's safe to use bare pip:
(myvenv) $ pip install scons
# install in a virtualenv from a wheel file:
(myvenv) $ pip install SCons-4.3.0-py3-none-any.whl
# install in a virtualenv from source directory:
(myvenv) $ pip install --editable .
Note that on Windows, SCons installed via pip puts an executable
scons.exe in the script directory of the Python installation,
or in a shadow script directory if you did a User Install.
To run scons as a command, you'll need this in your search path.
Fortunately, pip will warn you about this - pay attention to any
messages during installation like this::
WARNING: The scripts scons-configure-cache.exe, scons.exe and sconsign.exe are installed in 'C:\Users\me\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python310\Scripts' which is not on PATH. Consider adding this directory to PATH or, if you prefer to suppress this warning, use --no-warn-script-location.
If you are running on a system which uses a package manager
(for example most Linux distributions), you may, at your option,
use the package manager (e.g. apt, dnf, yum,
zypper, brew, pacman etc.) to install a version
of SCons. Some distributions keep up to date with SCons releases
very quickly, while others may delay, so the version of SCons
you want to run may factor into your choice.
Getting Started Using SCons
If you're new to SCons, the first couple of chapters of the
SCons User Guide <https://scons.org/doc/production/HTML/scons-user.html>_
provide an excellent starting spot.
Contributing to SCons
Please see <CONTRIBUTING.rst>_
License
SCons is distributed under the MIT license, a full copy of which is available
in the <LICENSE>_ file.
Reporting Bugs
The SCons project welcomes bug reports and feature requests.
Please make sure you send email with the problem or feature request to
the SCons users mailing list, which you can join at
https://two.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/scons-users,
or on the SCons Discord server in
#scons-help <https://discord.gg/bXVpWAy#scons-help>_.
Once you have discussed your issue on the users mailing list and the community has confirmed that it is either a new bug or a duplicate of an existing bug, then please follow the instructions the community provides (including the issue template presented by GitHub) to file a new bug or to add yourself to the CC list for an existing bug.
You can explore the list of existing bugs, which may include workarounds
for the problem you've run into, on the
GitHub issue tracker <https://github.com/SCons/scons/issues>_.
Bug-fix Policy
At this time, the application of bug-fix pull requests normally happens at the head of the main branch. In other words fixes are likely to appear in the next regular release and there probably won't be a bugfix update to a past release. Consumers are of course free to internally maintain releases on their own by taking submitted patches and applying them.
Mailing Lists and Other Contacts
In addition to the scons-users list, an active mailing list for developers of SCons is available. You may send questions or comments to the list at scons-dev@scons.org.
You may subscribe to the developer's mailing list using the form at https://two.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/scons-dev. The same page contains archives of past postings.
Subscription to the developer's mailing list is by approval. In practice, no one is refused list membership, but we reserve the right to limit membership in the future and/or weed out lurkers.
There are other ways to contact the SCons community. An active Discord
server is the most direct. The server includes a channel for code
notifications and other GitHub events (#github-update),
if those are of interest. See the website for more contact information:
https://scons.org/contact.html.
Reproducible Builds
SCons itself is set up to do "reproducible builds"
(see (https://reproducible-builds.org/specs/source-date-epoch/)
if environment variables SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH is set - that is,
fields in the package which could change each time the package is
constructed are forced to constant values.
To support other projects which wish to do the same, a sample script
is provided which can be placed in a site directory, which imports
SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH and sets it in the execution environment of
every created construction envirionment. There's also an installer
script (POSIX shell only). See packaging/etc/README.txt for more details.
Donations
If you find SCons helpful, please consider making a donation (of cash, software, or hardware) to support continued work on the project. Information is available at https://www.scons.org/donate.html or the GitHub Sponsors button on https://github.com/scons/scons.
For More Information
Check the SCons web site at https://www.scons.org/
Author Info
SCons was originally written by Steven Knight, knight at baldmt dot com. Since around 2010 it has been maintained by the SCons development team, co-managed by Bill Deegan and Gary Oberbrunner, with many contributors, including but not at all limited to:
- Chad Austin
- Dirk Baechle
- Charles Crain
- William Deegan
- Steve Leblanc
- Rob Managan
- Greg Noel
- Gary Oberbrunner
- Anthony Roach
- Greg Spencer
- Tom Tanner
- Anatoly Techtonik
- Christoph Wiedemann
- Russel Winder
- Mats Wichmann
... and many others.
Copyright (c) 2001 - 2024 The SCons Foundation
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