Ask HN: Learning about build systems generally
The question: what resources exist to help explore build systems, specifically anything that isn’t extremely tool-specific? Or is compile/build so tool-specific that that’s all there is? Here’s what I mean by tool-specific: resources about autotools require you to go into the guts of autotools. Resources about Cmake require you to go into the guts of Cmake. Resources about Meson require you to go into the guts of Meson. Compare that with, for example, learning about memory management. You can get quite in depth introductions and overviews of memory management without necessarily needing to get into the guts of x86-64 mm. Now, you often do. But usually as an exemplar towards the end, in order to illustrate the general principles that have been established. When I have tried to approach learning about build systems, it feels like you are immediately thrown into the weeds of how specific tools work. But my interest is not necessarily in learning one specific tool in order to use it right now. From the beggars can be choosers front: reading material preferred, podcasts ok, videos I’m meh-ish about but if that’s what exists, hit me with them. 0 comments on Hacker News.
The question: what resources exist to help explore build systems, specifically anything that isn’t extremely tool-specific? Or is compile/build so tool-specific that that’s all there is? Here’s what I mean by tool-specific: resources about autotools require you to go into the guts of autotools. Resources about Cmake require you to go into the guts of Cmake. Resources about Meson require you to go into the guts of Meson. Compare that with, for example, learning about memory management. You can get quite in depth introductions and overviews of memory management without necessarily needing to get into the guts of x86-64 mm. Now, you often do. But usually as an exemplar towards the end, in order to illustrate the general principles that have been established. When I have tried to approach learning about build systems, it feels like you are immediately thrown into the weeds of how specific tools work. But my interest is not necessarily in learning one specific tool in order to use it right now. From the beggars can be choosers front: reading material preferred, podcasts ok, videos I’m meh-ish about but if that’s what exists, hit me with them.
The question: what resources exist to help explore build systems, specifically anything that isn’t extremely tool-specific? Or is compile/build so tool-specific that that’s all there is? Here’s what I mean by tool-specific: resources about autotools require you to go into the guts of autotools. Resources about Cmake require you to go into the guts of Cmake. Resources about Meson require you to go into the guts of Meson. Compare that with, for example, learning about memory management. You can get quite in depth introductions and overviews of memory management without necessarily needing to get into the guts of x86-64 mm. Now, you often do. But usually as an exemplar towards the end, in order to illustrate the general principles that have been established. When I have tried to approach learning about build systems, it feels like you are immediately thrown into the weeds of how specific tools work. But my interest is not necessarily in learning one specific tool in order to use it right now. From the beggars can be choosers front: reading material preferred, podcasts ok, videos I’m meh-ish about but if that’s what exists, hit me with them. 0 comments on Hacker News.
The question: what resources exist to help explore build systems, specifically anything that isn’t extremely tool-specific? Or is compile/build so tool-specific that that’s all there is? Here’s what I mean by tool-specific: resources about autotools require you to go into the guts of autotools. Resources about Cmake require you to go into the guts of Cmake. Resources about Meson require you to go into the guts of Meson. Compare that with, for example, learning about memory management. You can get quite in depth introductions and overviews of memory management without necessarily needing to get into the guts of x86-64 mm. Now, you often do. But usually as an exemplar towards the end, in order to illustrate the general principles that have been established. When I have tried to approach learning about build systems, it feels like you are immediately thrown into the weeds of how specific tools work. But my interest is not necessarily in learning one specific tool in order to use it right now. From the beggars can be choosers front: reading material preferred, podcasts ok, videos I’m meh-ish about but if that’s what exists, hit me with them.
Hacker News story: Ask HN: Learning about build systems generally
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April 13, 2024
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