Cargo vs Carthage
Cargo
doc.rust-lang.orgCarthage
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Cargo | Carthage |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#6) | 8.3 (#27) |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | The documented rustup installer installs Cargo alongside the stable Rust release. | The project documents installation through a package installer, Homebrew, MacPorts, or building from source. |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | Rust crates; crates.io packages; alternate registry packages; Git dependencies; local path dependencies | framework,xcframework |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Cargo is the Rust package manager. | Carthage is a dependency manager for Cocoa applications that builds dependencies and provides binary frameworks. |
| Support | Cargo asks users to report bugs through its GitHub issue tracker. | The documentation invites users who cannot build their framework with Carthage to open an issue for help. |
| Supported platforms | Windows; macOS; Linux; other Unix-like systems | macOS,iOS,tvOS,watchOS,visionOS |
Plans
In their own words
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.