Build managers

[Atila Neves via Digitalmars-d]

On Monday, 2 February 2015 at 12:16:51 UTC, Russel Winder wrote:
> Personally I would propose that a build specification should be 
> as
> declarative as possible but no more, i.e. there is always a 
> need for
> an element of programming of build. Thus a framework based on an
> internal DSL has to be the right choice. SCons is on Python, 
> Gradle is
> on Groovy.

I agree 100%. Declarative where possible (with sensible 
defaults), full general-purpose programming language where 
needed. I'm not sure how to approach that using D unless I go the 
Groovy way: a scripting language that accepts all D code as valid 
code. Or just use D and have a main function in the build 
description file. It means more boilerplate, but I guess not that 
much.

Atila

>
> SCons is entirely focused on mixed C, C++, Fortran and D 
> systems. It
> is not perfect, it needs work – not least working on Python 3.
>
> Gradle is JVM-based, but now has C++ native code abilities. It 
> is not
> beyond the bounds of possibility that a D capability could be 
> created.

I doubt the D community will embrace having to write Groovy to 
configure their builds, but I could be wrong.

Atila