cachepot

Cachepot is an open-source compiler cache for developers and build teams who want to reuse compilation results locally or through remote storage. Its broad compiler and backend support is compelling, but the archived repository makes it a difficult choice for a new long-term build pipeline.

Overview

Cachepot skips compilation when it can reuse an earlier result, with cache data kept on local disk or stored remotely. It also supports icecream-style distributed compilation and automatically packages local toolchains. That combination suits teams with varied build environments; it is less attractive when ongoing project maintenance is essential, since the repository was archived on February 28, 2023 and points to upstream sccache as its successor.

Key features

Compiler and build coverage

Supported compilers include GCC, Clang, MSVC, rustc, NVCC, and Wind River Diab. Cachepot documents integration with Cargo, CMake, GNU make, Jenkins, GitLab CI, and Concourse CI. This breadth can help teams apply caching across different toolchains and build environments rather than adopting a separate tool for each compiler.

There are meaningful Rust constraints: crates that invoke the system linker and crates compiled incrementally cannot be cached. Cache hits also require matching absolute file paths, including paths to third-party Rust crates in Cargo's default registry cache. Teams with inconsistent build paths or relying heavily on those Rust workflows may see less reuse than the feature list suggests.

Storage and distributed builds

Storage backends include local disk, S3, Redis, Memcached, Google Cloud Storage, and Azure Blob Storage. The default local cache is 10 gigabytes, adjustable with CACHEPOT_CACHE_SIZE. The range of backends offers flexibility, though it also leaves teams responsible for choosing and operating the storage that fits their setup.

For distributed compilation, the project describes authentication, transport encryption, and sandboxed compiler execution on build servers. Its threat model documents sandboxing with bubblewrap or Docker and prefers bubblewrap. However, server-side hash verification is marked as a hardening goal rather than an implemented safeguard. The GitLab guide also warns that compilation output can expose data from the execution environment, so CI secrets should not be considered secret from that output.

Pricing

Cachepot is free open-source software under the Apache-2.0 license, with a listed price of no cost. Self-hosting is supported, and there are no hosted plans or paid tiers described. This suits teams prepared to run their own cache infrastructure; it does not provide a hosted option for those seeking a managed service.

Platforms

Cachepot supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as self-hosted deployment. That makes it relevant to mixed-platform teams, although the path-matching requirement still means build environments must align for cache hits.

Who it's for

Cachepot is best suited to teams with supported compilers and compatible build paths that can manage their own storage and accept an archived project. It is a weaker fit for new systems requiring active maintenance, Rust builds dependent on incremental compilation or system linking, or CI workflows that must keep secrets insulated from compilation output.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Supports six named compiler families and multiple build integrations, making it useful in heterogeneous build environments.
• Pro: Offers local and several remote storage backends, plus distributed compilation with automatic toolchain packaging.
• Pro: Free, Apache-2.0-licensed software with self-hosted deployment.
• Con: The repository is archived and identifies sccache as its successor, a substantial concern for new long-lived deployments.
• Con: Rust caching excludes system-linker and incremental builds, while cache hits depend on exact absolute-path matches.
• Con: Server-side hash verification remains a hardening goal, and GitLab CI compilation output can reveal environment data.

Alternatives

Build Cache Software is the category directory for comparing tools in this space.

Choose Ccache as another free compiler-cache option if a tool with the same listed Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows platform coverage is a better fit. For a remote-caching setup with a defined small-scale free tier, EngFlow Remote Caching offers one machine and 32 CPU cores in-cluster on Linux, with custom-priced Enterprise. NativeLink is another free, self-hosted option, with a distributed scheduler and remote caching in its open-source plan.

If the priority is a hosted build platform with a free entry plan and trial, Bitrise offers a one-person Hobby plan with build credits for a small project a few times per month. FosterStack offers a free self-hosted cache server and a paid Team plan. bazel-remote is a free, self-hosted alternative with configurable cache size. BuildFetch Cache has a free open-source plan with stated storage, traffic, request, and retention limits. MozJPEG is a free open-source JPEG encoder library rather than a general compiler cache.

Verdict

Cachepot makes sense for teams that need its compiler breadth, storage choices, and distributed compilation, and can operate the infrastructure themselves. Its price and capabilities are appealing, but archival, Rust cache exclusions, path sensitivity, and the documented CI security caveat weigh against adopting it for a new critical pipeline. For most new deployments, look first at an actively maintained successor or another cache that better fits the workflow.