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Xmake vs CMake: catalog facts
XmakeCMake
Free

Free and open source.

Free

Free and open source under the OSI-approved BSD 3-clause licence.

Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
  • Readable Lua-based build files
  • Built-in package management with Conan and vcpkg integration
  • One project description generates Makefiles, Ninja files, Visual Studio and Xcode projects
  • IDEs, package managers and libraries all assume CMake, so integration is everywhere
  • Less widely adopted than CMake
  • Requires learning its Lua configuration style
  • The scripting language is idiosyncratic and widely disliked
  • Older tutorials teach outdated patterns that still appear in real projects
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Open source Open source
License: Apache-2.0 License: BSD-3-Clause
No account needed No account needed
Works offline Works offline

Checked October 1, 2026

Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.