clcache review
A focused, open-source cache for repeated Windows MSVC and MSBuild compilations.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
clcache is an open-source Python script for Windows-based Microsoft Visual C++ workflows. It intercepts and analyzes cl.exe compilation commands, then reuses previously cached object files when matching compilations recur. The product is aimed at developers and build teams working with Microsoft Visual Studio and MSBuild projects who want a local compiler cache without a commercial licensing tier. It can also forward unsupported invocations to the real compiler, keeping the cache focused on supported compilation calls.
The published project details describe clcache as open source with a local cache scope and self-hosted operation. Its core feature set covers cache management and visibility: users can configure cache size limits, compress cached object files, create hard links for cached objects, and clean or clear cached content. Cache statistics include hits, misses, size, and related information. An optional server process can handle file hashes, while an optional memcached backend provides another place for cached data. These options make the product more configurable than a minimal local object-file cache, while keeping its primary use case centered on cl.exe.
Integration is concentrated around the Microsoft build ecosystem. clcache supports Microsoft Visual Studio and MSBuild through documented command-line configuration, and AppVeyor is listed among its CI platforms. That narrow scope is its main boundary: it is designed for Windows and Microsoft Visual C++ cl.exe rather than a broad range of compilers or operating systems. Choose clcache when a Windows MSVC or MSBuild workflow matches its supported tools and a local, open-source cache is appropriate. Teams needing cross-platform builds, broader compiler coverage, or a different build environment should choose a cache product with wider platform and compiler support.
clcache pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Caches repeated cl.exe compilations and reuses object files
- Reports cache hits, misses, size, and other statistics
- Supports compression, cache limits, hard links, and memcached
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only platform support
- Focused on Microsoft Visual C++ cl.exe
- Distribution is documented through the source repository
clcache fact sheet, pricing and score →
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