Declare
nox.build defines projects, targets, sources, flags, dependencies, metadata, and installation intent. It is the build graph, not a shell script.
The Nox Build System
The Nox Build
System & Task Runner
Nox is a Rust build system and task runner. It reads a project graph from nox.build, validates the dependencies, detects the required toolchain, and executes only the work needed for the selected build.
First build
For a new project.
01
nox init hello --language cCreate a starting project, or write nox.build yourself.
02
cd hello && nox setup buildParse the project and record its build state and toolchain.
03
nox build -C build -j8Validate and execute targets in dependency order.
04
nox run -C buildBuild the selected executable, then forward any arguments after --.
How it works
A project file, a task file, distinct responsibilities.
Configure
nox setup finds the project root, parses the declarations, detects native tools, and writes state for a debug or release configuration.
Automate
An optional noxfile contains named tasks. Tasks can depend on other tasks or Nox commands, run shell commands, and interpolate project values.
Built-in backends
The graph stays language-neutral.
Nox selects a Rider from source extensions, then keeps dependency traversal and build state independent of the compiler being used.
FamilyLanguagesRole
NativeC, C++, D, RustCompiled targets, libraries, dependency-aware builds
ManagedJava, Kotlin, C#, Q#JAR and .NET-oriented build paths
RuntimePython, JavaScript, Ruby, F#File handlers and runnable project targets
OtherGo, Swift, Zig, TypeScriptBuilt-in Riders with language-specific output