sbt (originally simple build tool, nowadays stands for nothing) is an open-source build tool which can build Java, Scala, and Kotlin projects. It aims to streamline the procedure of constructing, compiling, testing, and packaging applications, libraries, and frameworks. sbt is highly adaptable, permitting developers to customize the build process according to their project's specific needs.
sbt provides a wide range of features to make the process of building and managing Scala projects easy and efficient. Some of the key features include:
sbt is the de facto build tool in the Scala community, used, for example, by the Scala 2 and Scala 3 compilers themselves, Play Framework, and Lichess, a popular chess server. The sbt project is "bootstrapped" — it uses sbt to build itself.
sbt was originally released as an open-source project by Mark Harrah in 2008. Over the years, it has evolved significantly through numerous releases, each introducing new features, bug fixes, and enhancements. Here is an overview of the significant releases, along with the key changes and innovations they introduced:
What is sbt?
sbt by Lightbend, Inc. (developed by Lightbend Inc.) is open-source Windows software in the languages & sdks category. It ranks 11th by popularity among languages & sdks in this catalogue. It is written in Scala. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux and macOS.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 32-bit Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.0.11, released on October 18, 2026. The version history goes back to February 4, 2020: 67 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 10 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 263,649 times. The source code on GitHub (sbt/sbt) has 4,954 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 5 of our languages. Similar programs include Go Programming Language, LLVM and Deno.
Project description on GitHub: “sbt, the interactive build tool”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 10 a year)
- Also runs on Linux and macOS
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: sbt is an open-source languages & sdk tool for 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is sbt safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
D8C9C919258ADD1A5579CF82689C42826CB09D929541548E2475DA7F263734CA· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the sbt/sbt repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- Licence declared10
- Signed releases8
- Code review7
- Branch protection5
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- No binaries in the repository0
- Fuzzing0
- Pinned dependencies0
- Security policy0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 67 versions ›67 versions over 7 years · about 10 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0.11Latest | October 18, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.10 | October 2, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.9 | September 14, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.8 | August 28, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.7 | August 21, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.6 | August 7, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.5 | August 3, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 2.0.4 | July 26, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id sbt.sbt -echoco install sbt -yscoop install main/sbtmsiexec /i sbt-2.0.11.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {CE07BE71-510D-414A-92D4-DFF47631848A} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install sbtInformation
- Publisher
- Lightbend, Inc.
- Developer
- Lightbend Inc.
- Category
- Languages & SDKs
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/sbt/sbt
- Written in
- Scala
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Other platforms
- Linux, macOS
- Version
- 2.0.11
- Released
- October 18, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 67
- Updates / year
- 10
- Chocolatey downloads
- 263,649
- GitHub stars
- 4,954
- GitHub forks
- 1,052
- Website
- scala-sbt.org
- winget ID
- sbt.sbt
- Chocolatey package
- sbt
- Scoop package
- main/sbt
- MSI product code
- {CE07BE71-510D-414A-92D4-DFF47631848A}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to sbt
See all ›-
Go Programming Language1.27.0An open source programming language that makes it simple to build secure, scalable systems.Open source2.1M ↓ -
Open source2.8M ↓ -
Open source249.7K ↓ -
Open source3.7M ↓ -
Yarn1.22.22Yarn is a package manager that doubles down as project manager. Whether you work on one-shot projects or large monorepos, as a hobbyist or an enterprise user, we've got you covered.Open source1.9M ↓ -
Ccache4.14.1Ccache is a compiler cache. It speeds up recompilation by caching previous compilations and detecting when the same compilation is being done again.Open source2.2M ↓ -
Open source12.5K ↓ -
Open source1.4M ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is sbt free?
Yes. sbt is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is sbt safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install sbt with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can sbt be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does sbt run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of sbt?
The versions page lists all 67 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 4, 2020.
What are alternatives to sbt?
Go Programming Language, LLVM, Deno, CMake and Yarn. The alternatives page compares them.
