Meson is an open-source, high-performance build system designed for speed and ease of use, primarily used for compiling software projects from source code. It aims to make the build process as fast and developer-friendly as possible. Meson uses a simple, declarative, domain-specific language (DSL) to define project configurations, which are typically stored in files named 'meson.build' within the project's source directory. These files specify project details, dependencies, source files, compilation flags, and build targets.
Key features of Meson include its exceptional speed, achieved by generating build files for highly optimized backend build systems like Ninja (its default and recommended backend). It offers robust cross-platform support, working seamlessly across Linux, macOS, Windows, and various embedded systems. Meson supports a wide array of programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, Java, Rust, and more, making it versatile for diverse projects. It also provides strong dependency management, automatic detection of compilers and tools, and integrates well with various development environments and continuous integration pipelines. The 'meson.build' file is the core of a Meson project, defining how the software should be compiled and linked.