Apache Maven vs LuaRocks
Apache Maven
maven.apache.orgLuaRocks
luarocks.orgSide by side
| Figure | Apache Maven | LuaRocks |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#8) | 8.5 (#23) |
| Compatibility | Maven 3.10 and later requires JDK 8 or above to execute, while toolchains can target other JDK versions. | LuaRocks.org provides manifest files for all Lua versions and for Lua 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4. |
| Dependencies | Maven supports dependency management, including automatic updates and transitive dependencies, and can download dependencies from a central repository. | LuaRocks is a pure Lua application with no library dependencies, though its current release uses helper tools. |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | pom,jar,maven-plugin,ejb,war,ear,rar | A rock is a zip file containing its rockspec and the files needed to install a module; rocks can be built for specific platforms. |
| Purpose | Apache Maven is a build tool for Java projects that uses a project object model (POM) to manage compilation, testing, and documentation. | LuaRocks is a package manager for Lua, and LuaRocks.org hosts rocks and rockspecs for Lua modules. |
| Security | Maven's security model assumes users trust the POM, code, dependencies, and repositories used in a build; users building untrusted code must provide isolation. | A 2019 security incident page says LuaRocks.org packages did not have signing and verification at the time of that incident. |
| Support | The Maven site recommends its users mailing list for help and also points users to documentation, issue management, wiki resources, and Slack. | The official site links to its GitHub issue tracker for reporting issues. |
| Supported platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux | Linux,macOS,Windows,Unix,FreeBSD,Cygwin |
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.
LuaRocks
LuaRocks is a package manager for Lua, with LuaRocks.org hosting rocks and rockspecs for Lua modules. Its command line uses manifests to find packages, choose a version and platform match, and install the corresponding files locally. Rocks carry version dependency information, which LuaRocks uses to install dependencies and load the appropriate module version. Package collections can be organized through the root manifest, per-user manifests, or custom manifests; development versions are kept in a separate manifest and are not installed by default. LuaRocks supports offline installation and platforms including Linux, macOS, Windows, Unix, FreeBSD, and Cygwin. Module authors can register and upload a rockspec, then publish rock files for a version; the current release supports the `luarocks upload` command. The application is described as pure Lua with no library dependencies, though its current release uses helper tools. LuaRocks is free, with a listed price of free.