Cargo vs Rebar3
Cargo
doc.rust-lang.orgRebar3
rebar3.orgSide by side
| Figure | Cargo | Rebar3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#6) | 8.4 (#25) |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Extensibility | Cargo supports new subcommands without modifying Cargo itself. | A plugin system lets users add tasks and behaviors, and plugins may be installed per project or globally. |
| Intended users | The Cargo Book presents Cargo as a tool for developing Rust packages. | The project recommends Rebar3 for systems whose main language is Erlang when users value repeatable builds and integrated tools. |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | Rust crates; crates.io packages; alternate registry packages; Git dependencies; local path dependencies | Hex packages; Git sources; Mercurial sources; local path dependencies |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Cargo is the Rust package manager. | Rebar3 helps create, develop, compile, test, and release Erlang libraries, applications, and systems. |
| Support | Cargo asks users to report bugs through its GitHub issue tracker. | Users are directed to documentation, GitHub issues, Erlang Slack, and IRC for questions and help. |
| Supported platforms | Windows; macOS; Linux; other Unix-like systems | Erlang/OTP environments; documented compatibility includes OTP 26–28 for Rebar3 3.25.1 |
| Workspace support | Yes | Yes |
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.