Maven vs Gradle Comparison

1. Build Tool Type

   • Maven: XML-based build tool.
   • Gradle: Groovy/Kotlin DSL-based build tool.

2. Configuration

   • Maven: Declarative (pom.xml), describe what to do.
   • Gradle: Declarative + imperative (build.gradle), describe what and how.

3. Performance

   • Maven: Slower, full build each time.
   • Gradle: Faster, supports incremental builds and caching.

4. Dependency Management

   • Maven: Centralized pom.xml dependencies.
   • Gradle: Flexible, supports dynamic dependencies, Maven & Ivy repos.

5. Flexibility

   • Maven: Less flexible, relies on plugins.
   • Gradle: Highly flexible, supports custom tasks.

6. Popularity

   • Maven: Widely used in enterprise, stable.
   • Gradle: Popular in modern Java, Android, multi-language projects.

7. Learning Curve

   • Maven: Easier for beginners.
   • Gradle: Steeper learning curve, scriptable.

Maven = simpler, convention-based, slower Gradle = faster, flexible, modern