Difference between Gradle and Maven


Gradle is a tool which is used in Java development. One of its main jobs is to create automation tools. Maven is used as an alternative to Gradle but it is older and helps in building the tools which are best for a project. Developers can make a choice between them on the basis of their requirements for a project. In this article, we will discuss the difference between Gradle and Maven.

What is Gradle?

Gradle is an open-source automation system which uses domain-specific language called Groovy. This is a programming language that uses XML for the configuration of a project. Gradle was launched in 2007 and Google adopted the platform in 2013 to use it to develop Android projects.

Gradle can be used to develop multiple projects. The latest version of Gradle is 3.4 which was launched in February 2017. In this version, developers can also use Java Scala and Groovy for development and deployment. There are chances that other languages may also be included in Gradle.

What is Maven?

Maven is a platform which is used by developers to make an outline of a project. This outline helps in the development of a software application. An XML file is used for the description of the project that is to be developed. The XML file will also include the following −

  • Dependencies on the third-party modules
  • Build order
  • Useful plugins necessary for the project

Maven can be used to download various types of plugins and libraries available in different places. These libraries and plugins are added to the cache of the local machine and can be used for making Java projects. Besides Java, Maven can also be used for C#, Scala, and Ruby.

Difference between Gradle and Maven

Gradle and Maven have many differences and they can be found in the table below −

Gradle Maven
Gradle is used to make projects which are based on a particular domain. Maven is used to develop software applications by using the Java programming language.
The project structure is created by using Groovy which is a domain-specific language. The project structure is created by using XML which can be expanded as Extensible Markup Language.
New features can beaded during the development of an application. Applications have to be developed within a given time limit.
Gradle tracks only the current running task so its performance is comparatively better. Maven works slowly comparatively as no temporary files are created when the software application is being developed.
Gradle is a new tool and developers have to learn to work on it. Maven is an old tool and can be used easily.
Gradle supports different types of IDEs so it can be easily customized. Maven cannot be customized easily.
The programming languages that Gradle supports are Java, C++, C, and Groovy. The programming languages that Maven supports are Java Scala, C#, and Ruby. It can also support C and C++ with the help of some plugins.
XML files are not used for the configuration of a project. XML files are used for the configuration of a project.
The goal of using Gradle is to add more functions and features to a project. The main aim of Maven is to complete a project in the given time.
The script written in Gradle is short and clear The scripts of Maven are longer than Gradle.

Conclusion

Gradle and Maven are the tools used to develop the outline of a project. The programming languages used in the Gradle are Java, C, C++, etc. while Maven supports Scala, Ruby, etc. The performance of Gradle is faster than Maven as Gradle focuses on the execution of the current task only. Gradle is difficult to learn while this is not a problem with Maven. There are many other differences and users choose any one of them depending on the type of project that they have to make.

FAQs on Gradle Vs. Maven

1. Which platform uses XML to create a project structure?

Maven uses XML to create a project structure. In the case of Gradle, it uses Groovy to accomplish the task.

2. Which platform can be used to add new features to a project?

Gradle can be used to add new features to a project. These features can be added while a software application is being developed.

3. The performance of which platform is better?

The performance of Gradle is better as it focuses on the currently running task. Maven is comparatively slower as during the development of a software application, no temporary files are created.

4. Which platform has a lot of options for customization?

Gradle has a lot of customization options because of the presence of many IDEs. Customizing Maven is a difficult task as there are not many options.

5. Which programming languages are supported by Gradle and Maven?

Gradle supports Java, C, C++, and Groovy while Maven supports Java Scala, Ruby, and C#.

Updated on: 24-Jul-2024

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