What is the difference between Gradle and Maven?

Gradle and Maven are both build tools, but they operate differently. Gradle uses a Groovy or Kotlin-based configuration and supports incremental builds—updating only the parts of a project that have changed. This makes Gradle faster and more flexible, especially for complex projects like Android development. Developers can also easily modify how Gradle functions to suit specific project requirements.

Maven relies on XML for configuration, which is more rigid and less adaptable than Gradle’s approach. While Maven is simple to use for straightforward projects, creating customised builds can be more difficult and slower. Maven cannot perform incremental builds, so it is generally slower than Gradle.

In summary, Gradle is quicker and more adaptable, ideal for large or complex projects like Android applications. Maven is most suitable for standard projects without many specialised demands.