A frequently-requested feature for the Gradle Build Tool is the ability to perform remote or distributed builds. But what exactly does this mean? And what are the motivations behind the requests? This post will explore the difference between remote vs. distributed builds and t...

Gradle Blog

A comprehensive overview of remote and distributed build patterns for software projects, clarifying terminology and exploring variations. Covers remote build caches (storing intermediate artifacts to avoid redundant work), remote builds (delegating computation to a more powerful machine), remote IDEs (VS Code SSH, JetBrains Gateway/Fleet), and cloud development environments. Also explains distributed build approaches including CI fanout, modern test distribution, and general distribution tools like Bazel and Pants. Key tradeoffs discussed include network overhead, infrastructure complexity, and the limited benefit of distributing fast-compiling languages like Java. Gradle's own Build Cache and Enterprise Test Distribution features are highlighted alongside third-party options.

Remote and Distributed Build Patterns