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distcc

distcc.org

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.2 #10 of 42 in Build Automation Software

What it is

distcc is free software that distributes C, C++, Objective C, and Objective C++ builds across networked machines. It sends preprocessed source code to machines running the distccd daemon and a suitable compiler. The project says distributed builds should match local results and are usually faster than compiling locally. distcc works with GNU Make, SCons, and other parallel build tools. Machines with different processors or operating systems can participate when suitable cross-compilers are installed. GCC is fully supported; Intel icc is somewhat compatible, and the FAQ reports Sun’s proprietary compiler working in C mode. The project is developed on GNU/Linux and reports use on several Unix-like systems, Cygwin, and BSD/OS; listed platforms include Linux, macOS, self-hosted use, and Windows. TCP transmissions are neither encrypted nor signed, while SSH connections are authenticated and encrypted. The FAQ says distcc does not automatically find the best work distribution. Related tools cover server selection, control, cross-compilation, and monitoring.

Spec sheet

Purpose
distcc distributes builds of C, C++, Objective C and Objective C++ code across multiple networked machines.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Support
The FAQ directs unanswered questions to the mailing list archives or the distcc mailing list.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Founded
2002Read 28 Sep 2026 · distcc.org
Access risk
The security notes state that anyone able to connect to the server port can run arbitrary commands as the distccd user, and that the client and server trust each other.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Build behavior
The site says distcc should produce the same results as a local build and is usually faster than compiling locally.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Build tools
The site describes using distcc with GNU Make, SCons, or other build tools that support parallel builds.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Caching integration
The FAQ says ccache and distcc can be used as separate programs, but using ccache prevents distcc's pump mode.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Compiler support
The FAQ says GCC is fully supported; Intel icc is somewhat compatible, and Sun's proprietary C compiler is reported to work in C mode.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Cross-platform builds
The site says machines can use different processors or operating systems when appropriate cross-compilers are installed.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
How it works
distcc sends preprocessed source code over the network and uses a distccd daemon and an appropriate compiler on each volunteer machine.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Known limitation
The FAQ says distcc does not automatically detect the best distribution of work across machines.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Other related tools
The site lists dmucs for server selection, ccontrol for centralized control, crosstool for cross-compilation toolchains, and distccWebView for monitoring servers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Platform support
The home page says distcc is developed on GNU/Linux and has been reported to work on FreeBSD, NetBSD, Darwin, Solaris, HP-UX, IRIX, Cygwin and BSD/OS.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Security: SSH mode
The security notes say SSH connections are authenticated and encrypted, and each user's server process runs with that user's account privileges.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Security: TCP mode
The security notes warn that TCP transmissions are not encrypted or signed and recommend restricting access with --allow rules or firewall rules.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org
Use cases
The scenarios page describes use by developer workgroups, laptop users who offload builds to a faster home machine, and developers working on embedded or small computers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org

Plans and prices

distcc Free Free distributed C/C++ compiler · no paid tiers stated Read 8 Oct 2026 · distcc.org

Every distcc plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free distributed C and C++ compilation
  • Works with parallel build tools
  • Supports cross-platform compiler machines
  • SSH mode authenticates and encrypts connections
  • Runs across listed multi-platform environments

Limits

  • TCP traffic is not encrypted or signed
  • No automatic workload distribution
  • GCC is the only fully supported compiler
  • ccache prevents pump mode

Who it suits

It suits developer workgroups, laptop users offloading builds to a faster machine, and developers on embedded or small computers. It is intended for environments that can run compatible compilers across networked systems.

Verdict

distcc can spread compatible native or cross-compilation work across available machines without a license cost. Administrators must handle scheduling limits and secure network access, especially when using TCP mode.

Where Specifiction places it

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