GNU Automake vs Open Build Service
GNU Automake
gnu.orgOpen Build Service
openbuildservice.orgSide by side
| Figure | GNU Automake | Open Build Service |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Build Automation Software | 7.4 (#28) | 8.3 (#9) |
| Integrations | Automake works with Autoconf and documents building shared libraries using GNU Libtool. | The OBS API lets clients and external services interface with OBS resources. |
| Intended users | Automake is intended to reduce Makefile maintenance for GNU package maintainers. | The project describes OBS as serving packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors. |
| Purpose | GNU Automake generates GNU Coding Standards compliant Makefile.in files from Makefile.am templates. | OBS automatically builds and distributes binary packages from source code in a consistent and reproducible way. |
| Support | Automake provides public mailing lists for discussion, patches, and bug reports. | Community help is available through OBS IRC and a mailing list; commercial consulting, training, or SLA support is offered by listed partners, while the project says it has no product or service offering of its own. |
Plans
In their own words
Open Build Service
Open Build Service (OBS) builds and distributes binary packages from source code in a consistent, reproducible way. Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment; when a build succeeds, OBS rebuilds packages that depend on it. The service can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and complete distributions for different operating systems and hardware architectures. Documented package formats include RPM, DEB, and Arch, with recipes in formats such as spec, dsc, KIWI, and mkosi. Teams can use access controls, branches, merge requests, and submission reviews to coordinate work. GitHub.com and GitLab.com integrations are supported, as are self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea instances when network connectivity works. The API gives clients and external services access to OBS resources, while the osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, start builds, and gather results. OBS is GPL-licensed free software, available on a reference server for open-source developers or for installation on users’ own hardware or in a data center. The listed plan is free.