From: Lionel Thiry <lthiryidontwantspams@...>
Date: 2005-10-01T00:12:00+09:00
Subject: Re: Rake, Rant, A-A-P

alan@agtrz.com a �crit :
>     I'd like to start working with C++ again. What's held me back is not
>     wanting to mess around with configure + make again.
> 
>     I'm casting about for a new build tool that will work on different
>     platforms, and I think this would be a good time to learn Ruby.
> 
>     I'm a confused about the difference between Rake and Rant. I'd like to
>     build C++ primarily, so it would be nice if the build tool knew about
>     various C++ tasks, wasn't totally Ruby oriented.
> 
>     A-A-P appeals to be because it has a concept of Recipes. A recipe for a
>     GUI app would build bundles on OS X, and resource files on Win32. It
>     doesn't appeal to me because it has a domain specific language.
> 
>     Specific questions:
>     
>         * What are the differences between Rant and Rake?

Rake and Rant are roughly the same. Differences appear mainly when
considering more advanced features like the way they manage rules. Rake
is considered mature and its core features won't change much in the
future. Rant is not 1.0 yet and there are sometimes incompatible changes
from version to version.

IMO Rant has a far more complete toolset like for example a dependency
analyser for C/C++. And its export feature is worth to be considered.

>         * How does Ruby compare to something like SCons or A-A-P?
> 

This is a trap! ;) What do you ask exactly? A comparison between ruby
and python? Or comparison between Rake/Rant and Scons/A-A-P?

If it's the second question, then I'd answer I prefer Rake/Rant mainly
because you use them with Ruby.

-- 
Lionel Thiry

Personal web site: http://users.skynet.be/lthiry/