# Gradle vs Bazel for JVM Projects

DevFeed: [Gradle vs Bazel for JVM Projects](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/gradle-vs-bazel-for-jvm-projects-24635.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.gradle.org/gradle-vs-bazel-jvm>)

Author: Piotr Jagielski

Published: 2020-06-30T04:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [The Gradle Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-gradle-blog.md>)

Topics: [Gradle](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/gradle.md>), [toolchain](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/toolchain.md>), [Scalability](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/scalability.md>), [Scala](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/scala.md>), [Maven](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/maven.md>)

Tags: [bazel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bazel.md>), [build-system](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/build-system.md>), [comparison](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/comparison.md>), [comparisons](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/comparisons.md>), [ecosystem](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ecosystem.md>), [github](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/github.md>), [gradle](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/gradle.md>), [jvm](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/jvm.md>), [kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kotlin.md>), [maintenance](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/maintenance.md>), [performance-analysis](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/performance-analysis.md>), [projects](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/projects.md>), [scalability](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/scalability.md>), [speed](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/speed.md>), [toolchain](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/toolchain.md>)

## AI overview

This article compares Gradle and Bazel for JVM projects. It reports that Gradle performed better in nearly all tested scenarios, while Bazel optimization required substantially more build authoring and maintenance effort. The article also evaluates build-system capabilities, performance factors, and common JVM use cases.

## Source excerpt

Introduction Gradle has emerged as the build tool of choice for projects within the JVM ecosystem, including Kotlin. It is the most popular build tool for open source JVM projects on GitHub. It is downloaded on average more than 15 million times per month and has been counted in the Top 20 Most Popular Open Source Projects for IT by Techcrunch. Many popular projects have migrated from Maven to Gradle, with Spring Boot being a prominent example. Recently, we have received inquiries about the suitability of Google's Bazel build tool for usage within JVM environments. What follows is a detailed comparative performance analysis and evaluation of key capabilities, that arrives at three major conclusions: Despite Bazel's strong and well-deserved reputation for performance and scalability, Gradle outperforms Bazel in almost every scenario we tested. Optimizing projects for Bazel comes at a significant cost for build authoring and maintenance. Gradle provides more compelling features and conveniences for common use cases in JVM projects. In summary, the data and analysis indicates clearly that Gradle is a better choice than Bazel for most JVM projects. We will provide an equivalent comparison for Android projects in a follow up article. At the same time, recognizing that individual tools have unique strengths in addressing the needs and requirements of specific developer ecosystems and specific use cases, we expect that build tool specialization and fragmentation will continue to be the norm across and even within these ecosystems (e.g. Gradle and Maven). In recognition of this, Gradle Enterprise provides analytics and acceleration for more than just Gradle. This allows users to benefit from faster and more reliable builds without migrating to any specific build tool. Today this includes Gradle and Maven, but will include Bazel and other tools in the future. To learn more about the acceleration technology supported in Gradle Enterprise for the Gradle, Maven, and soon Bazel