About premake/premake-core
Premake is a command line utility which reads a scripted definition of a software project, then uses it to perform build configuration tasks or generate project files for toolsets like Visual Studio, Xcode, and GNU Make. Premake's scripts are little Lua programs, allowing for flexible and powerful project configuration. It is a BSD-licensed open source project hosted on GitHub, with an active community and sponsors.
Key Features
Reads scripted project definitions
Generates project files for Visual Studio, Xcode, and GNU Make
Uses Lua scripting language for project configuration
Cross-platform command line utility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Open source with BSD 3-Clause license
Supports build configuration tasks (e.g., Debug/Release configurations)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open source with permissive BSD license
- Supports major IDEs and build tools (Visual Studio, Xcode, GNU Make)
- Flexible Lua scripting enables advanced and reusable configurations
- Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Active community and sponsorship support
Best For
Cross-platform C/C++ project configuration and build generationAutomating generation of Visual Studio, Xcode, and Make project filesManaging complex software project builds with Lua scriptsOpen source project build system setup