ninja
Ninja is a small build system with a focus on speed
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Ninja is a mature, widely-used build system with no known vulnerabilities, permissive licensing, and zero runtime dependencies. Install it if you need a fast, portable build tool for C/C++/Fortran projects or as a build dependency. Platform-specific wheel selection is handled automatically by pip.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.8+.
- Versions after 1.13 require manylinux2014+/musllinux_1_2+ on Linux.
- Medium install friction due to platform-specific wheels, but actively maintained (last commit 2026-08-10) with Production/Stable status.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Permissive Apache License 2.0 allows commercial and private use without restriction. Logo separately covered under CC BY 4.0.
last release 2025-08-11 (368 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-10 · 89 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 31,077,459 downloads/mo, #791 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install ninja
from ninja import BIN_DIR
import subprocess
subprocess.run([BIN_DIR / 'ninja', '--version'])- What specific APIs or capabilities the bundled tools provide for .ninja file generation.
- Performance characteristics or real-world build speed improvements compared to alternatives.
- Whether the package is suitable for end-user installation or primarily intended as a build dependency.
What it is and what it does
Ninja is a small build system with a focus on speed, distributed here as pre-compiled Python wheels for easy installation across Windows, macOS, and Linux architectures. This package bundles the Ninja 1.13.0 executable and related tools, eliminating the need for users to compile or install Ninja separately. It has no runtime dependencies and is commonly used in projects that need a fast, portable build tool—particularly in C, C++, and Fortran development integrated with CMake.
The package is actively maintained, marked Production/Stable, and has been in development since 2015. It supports Python 3.8+ and provides wheels for a wide range of platforms including x86_64, ARM, RISC-V, and s390x, making it suitable for cross-platform and cross-compilation workflows.
Use it for
- Distribute Ninja as a build dependency in Python projects without requiring system package managers.
- Enable CMake-based C++ projects to use Ninja as the build backend without external installation.
- Support cross-platform CI/CD pipelines that need a consistent, fast build tool across operating systems.
- Embed Ninja in containerized or isolated build environments where system Ninja is unavailable.
- Provide a portable build system for Fortran and C projects that integrate with Python tooling.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Ninja is a mature, widely-used build system with no known vulnerabilities, permissive licensing, and zero runtime dependencies. Install it if you need a fast, portable build tool for C/C++/Fortran projects or as a build dependency. Platform-specific wheel selection is handled automatically by pip.
Install
ninja on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to platform-specific wheels, but actively maintained (last commit 2026-08-10) with Production/Stable status. No runtime dependencies simplifies deployment.
Requires Python 3.8+. Versions after 1.13 require manylinux2014+/musllinux_1_2+ on Linux.
License in practice
Permissive Apache License 2.0 allows commercial and private use without restriction. Logo separately covered under CC BY 4.0.
Quickstart
pip install ninja
from ninja import BIN_DIR
import subprocess
subprocess.run([BIN_DIR / 'ninja', '--version'])Verify before relying
- What specific APIs or capabilities the bundled tools provide for .ninja file generation.
- Performance characteristics or real-world build speed improvements compared to alternatives.
- Whether the package is suitable for end-user installation or primarily intended as a build dependency.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 368 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 31,077,459 / month, #791 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: CProgramming Language :: C++Programming Language :: FortranProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_i686.manylinux_2_17_i686.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_ppc64le.manylinux_2_17_ppc64le.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_s390x.manylinux_2_17_s390x.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux_2_28_armv7l.manylinux_2_31_armv7l.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-manylinux_2_31_riscv64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_armv7l.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_i686.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_ppc64le.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_riscv64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_s390x.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-win32.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-win_amd64.whl; ninja-1.13.0-py3-none-win_arm64.whl
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See also cmake · SCons · s5cmd · meson · scikit-build · nodejs-wheel-binaries · nodejs-wheel · scikit-build-core · pkgconf · pylibmagic