Apache Maven vs Cargo
Apache Maven
maven.apache.orgCargo
doc.rust-lang.orgSide by side
| Figure | Apache Maven | Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#8) | 8.8 (#6) |
| Dependencies | Maven supports dependency management, including automatic updates and transitive dependencies, and can download dependencies from a central repository. | Cargo supports dependencies from crates.io, other registries, Git repositories, and local filesystem paths. |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | pom,jar,maven-plugin,ejb,war,ear,rar | Rust crates; crates.io packages; alternate registry packages; Git dependencies; local path dependencies |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Apache Maven is a build tool for Java projects that uses a project object model (POM) to manage compilation, testing, and documentation. | Cargo is the Rust package manager. |
| Support | The Maven site recommends its users mailing list for help and also points users to documentation, issue management, wiki resources, and Slack. | Cargo asks users to report bugs through its GitHub issue tracker. |
| Supported platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux | Windows; macOS; Linux; other Unix-like systems |
| Workspace support | Yes | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
Apache Maven
Apache Maven is a free build tool for Java projects. It uses a project object model, or POM, and plugins to manage compilation, testing and documentation through a uniform build system. Maven manages dependencies, including transitive dependencies and automatic updates, and can download them from a central repository. Project metadata can produce outputs such as JARs, WARs and distributions. Maven can also generate project information, including changelogs, cross-referenced sources, dependency lists and unit test reports. Java or scripting-language plugins extend it, and it can work with source control systems such as Subversion or Git to manage tag-based releases. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Maven 3.10 and later requires JDK 8 or above to execute, while toolchains can target other JDK versions. Its project layout is opinionated, so projects with unusual structures that cannot be reorganized may have to give up some Maven features or Maven itself. The software is distributed under Apache License 2.0; its listed plan costs nothing.
Cargo
Cargo is the free package manager and build tool for Rust, used through a command-line interface. It downloads dependencies, builds packages, and supports repeatable builds with lockfiles. Developers can compile, check, document, test, run, package, install, and publish Rust projects. The `cargo new` command creates a package, defaulting to a binary; adding `--lib` creates a library. Cargo uses crates.io by default and also handles alternate registries, Git dependencies, and local paths. Workspaces allow multiple packages to share a lockfile and output directory. Package features can enable conditional compilation and optional dependencies. In offline mode, Cargo avoids network access and attempts to use cached data. It supports authentication options for registries and new subcommands without modifying Cargo itself. Rustup installs Cargo with the stable Rust release, and installation instructions cover Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like systems. Cargo is open source under the MIT and Apache License, Version 2.0. Some documented capabilities remain unstable and require a nightly toolchain and `-Z` flags.