Ccache

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Score7.3

Rank#2 of 23

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Windows

Summary

Ccache is a free build tool that can speed repeated compilations by storing previous results and recognizing when a single-file compilation recurs. It supports compilers including GCC, Clang, and MSVC, as well as C, C++, assembler, CUDA, Objective-C, and Objective-C++, with support varying by compiler and language. Runtime support includes Linux, macOS, and native Windows, plus Windows with MSYS2 and other Unix-like platforms at a different support level. Direct and depend modes can avoid running the preprocessor. Remote caching can be set up through adaptable storage backends, with helpers for HTTP, HTTPS, and Redis protocols. Ccache records cache hit and miss statistics, manages cache size, and supports Zstandard compression. It uses BLAKE3 for its main input hash and XXH3 checksums to detect cache data corruption. Its license is GNU GPL version 3 or later. Ccache only handles one-file compilations: multi-file builds, linking, and compilations with unsupported flags fall back to the real compiler. The project notes that cache misses add overhead and advises measuring typical workloads.

Who it is for

Ccache suits developers who repeatedly compile individual files and want to reuse prior compilation results. It supports users of build systems including Make, CMake, Ninja, and Visual Studio.

What is good

Supports GCC, Clang, and MSVC.
Includes direct and depend cache modes.
Supports remote storage backends.
Tracks cache statistics and manages cache size.
Free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later.

What to know first

Only caches single-file compilations.
Multi-file builds and linking use the real compiler.
Cache misses add overhead.

Verdict

Ccache may reduce repeated single-file compilation work, with broad compiler and build-system support. Its limits on multi-file builds and the overhead of misses are worth considering for a typical workload.

Ccache plans and pricing

All plans

Ccache Free Free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later Caches single-file compilations · Some compiler flags fall back to the real compiler ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on build cache software

Free plan: Yesccache.dev
Cache scope: bothccache.dev
Self-hosted option: Yesccache.dev
Supported build systems: Make, CMake, Ninja, Visual Studioccache.dev
Compiler/language support: GCC, Clang, MSVC, NVCC, Intel C++, QNX, EDG-based compilersccache.dev
Open source: Yesccache.dev

Facts

Purpose: Ccache speeds up recompilation by caching previous compilations and detecting when the same compilation is repeated.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
License: Ccache is free software released under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Compilers: It supports GCC, Clang, MSVC and other similar compilers, with support levels varying by compiler.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Languages: It supports C, C++, assembler, CUDA, Objective-C and Objective-C++, with support levels varying by language.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Operating systems: Runtime support includes Linux, macOS and native Windows at support level A, plus Windows with MSYS2 and other Unix-like platforms at level B.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Cache modes: Direct and depend modes can avoid running the preprocessor.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Remote caching: Ccache supports remote caching through custom storage backends that can be adapted to remote storage protocols.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Storage integrations: Listed storage helpers support HTTP and HTTPS, and Redis, rediss and redis+unix protocols.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Compression and hashing: Ccache supports Zstandard compression, uses BLAKE3 for the main input hash and uses XXH3 checksums to detect cache data corruption.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Cache management: It records cache hit and miss statistics and automatically manages cache size.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Security: Release archives starting with version 4.12 are signed with minisign, and the download page gives instructions for verifying them.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Limitations: Ccache only caches compilation of a single file; multi-file compilation and linking fall back to the real compiler, as do compilations using unsupported flags.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Performance caveat: The site says cache misses typically add 5%–20% overhead, or 1%–3% with depend mode enabled, and recommends measuring typical workloads.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Support and community: The site directs users to report bugs, open issues, contribute through the source repository, and use discussions or the mailing list.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Maintainer: Ccache has been developed and maintained by Joel Rosdahl since 2010.ccache.dev · 29 Sept 2026
Compression and hashes: Ccache supports Zstandard compression, uses BLAKE3 for its main input hash, and uses XXH3 checksums to detect cache corruption.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026
Platforms: Runtime support is rated A for Linux, macOS, and native Windows; other Unix-like platforms and Windows with MSYS2 are rated B.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026
Integrity caveat: The site notes that direct mode has a corner case that can cause false-positive cache hits.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026
Compilation limits: Ccache handles compilation of one file at a time; multi-file compilation and linking fall back to the real compiler.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026
Downloads: The download page lists source archives, macOS and Linux binaries, and a Windows x86_64 binary for version 4.14.1.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026
Release verification: Release archives starting with version 4.12 are signed with minisign, and the download page explains how to verify them.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026
Support: The site directs users to its bug report page, issue tracker, discussions, and mailing list.ccache.dev · 30 Sept 2026