Apache Ant vs Qbs

Apache Ant is a Java library and command-line tool that runs processes described in build files as targets and tasks. Its tasks compile, assemble, test, and run Java applications, and can also build C and C++ projects. Additional built-in coverage handles archiving, file operations, execution, remote access, source control, and testing. Ant does not impose coding conventions or directory layouts on Java projects. Developers can extend it with Antlibs containing tasks and types, while optional Antlibs are distributed separately from the core release. For projects needing dependency management alongside build tooling, the project recommends Apache Ivy. Ant 1.10 requires JDK 8 or later; many tasks will not work with only a JRE. The JUnit task requires external libraries that are not bundled. Ant has been used on Linux, macOS, Windows NT descendants, Unix, and other platforms, with development focused on Linux, macOS, Windows, and Unix. Releases from version 1.6.1 onward use the Apache License, Version 2.0. The listed free plan is Apache Ant 1.10.18, distributed as ZIP, TAR.GZ, and TAR.BZ2 packages. Download guidance includes PGP signature and SHA512 verification.

Qbs is a build automation tool for managing software projects across multiple platforms. Projects can use it regardless of programming language, toolkit, or libraries, and its declarative model lets them describe build tasks and dependencies without setting the build order. The manual lists correct, fast incremental builds and an extensible architecture among its features. Qbs documents built-in support for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, QNX, and FreeBSD, plus cross-compilation. It can be used with Qt Creator and Visual Studio Code through the Qbs session feature, and it can generate Clang compilation databases. Project generation for Visual Studio, IAR Embedded Workbench, and Keil uVision is available but described as experimental. Binaries are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD, or Qbs can be built locally from source. The Qbs plan costs nothing. Its library and tools are available under commercial licenses, LGPL version 3, and GPL version 2. The Makefile generator will not create a Makefile if the source, build, or install root directory contains spaces; other UNIX-like systems may work but are not regularly tested or officially supported.