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> TCMalloc is great, but is an absolute nightmare to use if you’re not using bazel custom-malloc-newbie question: Why is the choice of build system (generator)

> TCMalloc is great, but is an absolute nightmare to use if you’re not using bazel custom-malloc-newbie question: Why is the choice of build system (generator) significant when evaluating the usability of a library?

fc417fc802 1y ago
Because you need to build it to use it, and you likely already have significant build related infrastructure, and you are going to need to integrate any new dependencies into that. I'm increasingly convinced that the various build systems are elaborate and wildly successful ploys intended only to sap developer time and energy.
CamouflagedKiwi 1y ago
Because you have to build it. If they don't use the same build system as you, you either want to invoke their system, or import it into yours. The former is unappealing if it's 'heavy' or doesn't play well as a subprocess; the latter can take a lot of time if the build process you're replicating is complex. I've done both before, and seen libraries at various levels of complexity; there is definitely a point where you just want to give up and not use the thing when it's very complex.
- username223 1y ago
  This. When step one is "install our weird build system," I'll immediately look for something else that meets my needs. All build systems suck, so everyone thinks they can write a better one, and too many people try. Pretty soon you end up having to learn a majority of this (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_build_automation_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_build_automation_softw...) to get your code to compile.
  - einpoklum 1y ago
    If TCMalloc uses bazel, then you build it with Bazel. It just needs to install itself where you tell it to, and then either it has given you a pkg-config file, or otherwise, your own build system needs some library-finding logic for it ("find module" in CMake terms). Or - are you saying the problem is that you need to install Bazel?
    - username223 1y ago
      > Or - are you saying the problem is that you need to install Bazel? That. Then there's Facebook's build system, a few Python and JavaScript build systems, and pretty soon I have installed and have to deal with a half-dozen things that slightly improve upon Make. It's a maintenance burden if I ever have to touch any of these build systems.
    - JadedBlueEyes 1y ago
      Building complete, optimised binaries can be much more complicated than just linking in a SO/A file. Things like cross-language LTO and PGO can be massive for performance and require integration throughout the build system.

fc417fc802 1y ago

Because you need to build it to use it, and you likely already have significant build related infrastructure, and you are going to need to integrate any new dependencies into that. I'm increasingly convinced that the various build systems are elaborate and wildly successful ploys intended only to sap developer time and energy.

CamouflagedKiwi 1y ago

Because you have to build it. If they don't use the same build system as you, you either want to invoke their system, or import it into yours. The former is unappealing if it's 'heavy' or doesn't play well as a subprocess; the latter can take a lot of time if the build process you're replicating is complex. I've done both before, and seen libraries at various levels of complexity; there is definitely a point where you just want to give up and not use the thing when it's very complex.

username223 1y ago
This. When step one is "install our weird build system," I'll immediately look for something else that meets my needs. All build systems suck, so everyone thinks they can write a better one, and too many people try. Pretty soon you end up having to learn a majority of this (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_build_automation_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_build_automation_softw...) to get your code to compile.
- einpoklum 1y ago
  If TCMalloc uses bazel, then you build it with Bazel. It just needs to install itself where you tell it to, and then either it has given you a pkg-config file, or otherwise, your own build system needs some library-finding logic for it ("find module" in CMake terms). Or - are you saying the problem is that you need to install Bazel?
  - username223 1y ago
    > Or - are you saying the problem is that you need to install Bazel? That. Then there's Facebook's build system, a few Python and JavaScript build systems, and pretty soon I have installed and have to deal with a half-dozen things that slightly improve upon Make. It's a maintenance burden if I ever have to touch any of these build systems.
  - JadedBlueEyes 1y ago
    Building complete, optimised binaries can be much more complicated than just linking in a SO/A file. Things like cross-language LTO and PGO can be massive for performance and require integration throughout the build system.