compare
Meson vs SCons
The same facts for both, read from GitHub every night, and the relation a person reviewed.
| Fact | Meson | SCons |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Python | Python |
| Licence | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Stars | 6.6k | 2.4k |
| Latest | 1.12.1 | 4.11.1 |
| Last push | 2026-10-14 | 2026-10-18 |
| Release cadence | about 37 days between releases | about 117 days between releases |
| Active contributors | 65 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days | 12 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days |
| Flags | none | none |
How they relate
Both replace CMake. Alternatives to CMake →
Full replacementMesonIts own declarative build language that generates Ninja files.
PartialSConsPython build scripts that drive the build directly instead of generating project files.
Meson
SCons
- 4.11.12026-08-27A new SCons release, 4.11.1, is now available on the SCons download page:
- 4.11.02026-08-11A new SCons release, 4.11.0, is now available on the SCons download page:
- 4.10.12025-11-16SCons 4.10.1 Released with MSVS 2026 Support
- 4.10.02025-10-02SCons 4.10.0 Released
- 4.9.12025-03-27SCons 4.9.1 Released
Meson
unsigned The latest release, 1.12.1, carries no signature GitHub could verify.
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SCons
unsigned The latest release, 4.11.1, carries no signature GitHub could verify.
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