Build system

[alecandido]

This is triggered by C/C++ need for a build system, but once we introduce a polyglot one, we could well use it to build every possible target.

The players in this game are:

• old friends
  • Cargo
  • pip
  • maturin
• polyglot builds
  • CMake
  • Meson
  • Bazel
  • Buck2
  • (ok, also: QMake, SCons, Pants, ...)
• build systems that are also package distributions: Nix!

[alecandido]

Nix + Bazel

This combo has a special place, because it is already battle-tested by Tweag.

https://www.tweag.io/blog/2022-12-15-bazel-nix-migration-experience/
https://www.tweag.io/blog/2018-03-15-bazel-nix/
https://github.com/tweag/rules_nixpkgs/
https://github.com/tweag/nix_bazel_codelab/

Personally, I have no problem in integrating even more with Nix, it would only make me happier. But I'm aware that's not the case for everyone. Moreover, this requires (me in the first place) to accept using Bazel...

It's definitely a viable and powerful option, which would provide hermetic and reproducible builds. I still wonder whether it is over-complicated to set up, and how much complexity will also be smashed in the face of every developer...