ninja-build/ninja
a small build system with a focus on speed
⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative Sourceninja is ninja is an open-source project written in C++: a small build system with a focus on speed..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), ninja-build/ninja has accumulated 13,308 GitHub stars and 1,844 forks. It is written in C++, licensed under Apache-2.0, and ranks #1,287 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Oct 15, 2026.”
| Repository | ninja-build/ninja ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | developer tools |
| Language & Stack | C++ |
| Software License | Apache-2.0 |
| Community Traction | ★ 13.3K stars · ⑂ 1.8K forks · #1,287 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Oct 15, 2026) · 413 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 90/100 · Grade AYes, ninja is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Oct 15, 2026 (29 days ago). Supported by 13,308 stars and 1,844 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 90/100, reflecting regular maintenance (29 days ago) and active community feedback (413 open).
Star History
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+19
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
1
PER DAY
#88
MOST-STARRED C++
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +0 | +19 | +90 |
| Per day | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Forks gained | +0 | +6 | +92 |
ninja gained 19 stars in the last 30 days, about 1 a day, and now has 13.3K. It is about 16 years old and has averaged roughly 832 stars a year. It ranks #88 among C++ repositories and #1,287 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
43
DAYS ON TRENDING
#787
BEST RANK
Sep 25, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
ninja has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #787. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
ninja is an open-source project written in C++: a small build system with a focus on speed.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in C++. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in C++ for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ git clone https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja.git
cd ninja⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
C++20 compliant compiler (GCC 11+, Clang 13+, MSVC)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
ninja coordinates its core functionality through a modular C++ pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed ninja into C++ backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open Apache-2.0 license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install ninja using your package manager: `git clone https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja.git`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for ninja.
Import ninja into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `ninja --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
ninja-build/ninja is currently ranked #1,287 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1,282 | darktable-org/darktable | C | ★ 13.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,283 | jonas/tig | C | ★ 13.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,284 | debezium/debezium | Java | ★ 13.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,285 | projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates | JavaScript | ★ 13.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,286 | langchain4j/langchain4j | Java | ★ 13.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,287 | ninja-build/ninja This Project | C++ | ★ 13.3K | |
| #1,288 | modelscope/DiffSynth-Studio | Python | ★ 13.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,289 | multimodal-art-projection/YuE | Python | ★ 13.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,290 | sirmalloc/ccstatusline | TypeScript | ★ 13.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,291 | filp/whoops | PHP | ★ 13.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,292 | anchore/grype | Go | ★ 13.2K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ninja do? +
a small build system with a focus on speed
Is ninja actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, ninja is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Oct 15, 2026 (29 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 90/100 (A rating) with 13,308 stars and 413 open issues.
What language is ninja written in? +
The primary language is C++. Topics include: software.
How many stars does ninja have? +
ninja has 13,308 stars and 1,844 forks on GitHub.
How does ninja rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 13,308 stars, ninja-build/ninja is ranked #1,287 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #88 among C++ projects.
What license is ninja distributed under? +
The repository reports a Apache-2.0 license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
