Crates / Compare / derive_builder vs derivative
Rust crates side by side · data Oct 24, 2026
derive_builder vs derivative
Short answerBy steady daily use, derive_builder is bigger: 633,349 real downloads a day against 320,737 for derivative (2.0x). 1,332 crates depend on derive_builder and 616 on derivative. derive_builder last shipped 2.0 years ago, derivative 5.7 years ago.
derive_builder
Widely usedWidely used and quiet for years.
1,332 crates depend on it; no release in the last 90 days, so its count is all steady use.
Rust macro to automatically implement the builder pattern for arbitrary structs.
derivative
EstablishedEstablished and quiet for years.
616 crates depend on it; no release in the last 90 days, so its count is all steady use.
A set of alternative `derive` attributes for Rust
derive_builderderivative · 100% = that crate's normal quiet day, so a spike to 300% is triple its usual traffic
Every number, side by side
| Same window, same method | derive_builder | derivative |
|---|---|---|
| Real downloads a day | 633,349 | 320,737 |
| Crates that depend on it | 1,332 | 616 |
| Last release | 0.20.2, 2.0 years ago | 2.2.0, 5.7 years ago |
| Trend vs the field | -5% | -6% |
| Release-window share | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Downloads in the window | 55,470,654 | 27,570,852 |
| All-time downloads | 224,662,192 | 203,104,816 |
| Versions published | 34 | 20 |
| License | MIT OR Apache-2.0 | MIT/Apache-2.0 |
| MSRV | not set | not set |
| First published | Aug 7, 2016 | Oct 7, 2016 |
Which to pick
- Downloads tell you what is common, not what fits. Each crate's own description above says what it is for; when the jobs differ, pick by the job.
- When both fit, prefer the one more crates depend on (derive_builder, 1,332 dependents): more eyes, more answered questions, and you may already have it in your tree.
- Check the release dates against your own pace: derive_builder 2.0 years ago, derivative 5.7 years ago.
Also in this space
Method
Real downloads = the median day with no release that day or the day before, from the crates.io API (Jul 27, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026). Raw crates.io counts include CI and bots and run high (why); the method is from our 90-day study.
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