1. Ant

2. What is Ant?
The simple definition: A Java-based build tool Like “make in C/C++” for Java The Official Definition: “Apache Ant is a Java-based build tool. In theory, it is kind of like make, without make’s wrinkles.” -- ant.apache.org

3. Deploying your Java program
Scenario
Java source files
How can a user run your program?
User needs to compile Java source files
User must know which class is main class
Solution 1
Deploy your source files with “README ” file
Solution 2
Deploy a program which can compile source files and packing multiple classes into one executable file

4. Why & When should I use?
One-time setup hassle provides easy building of a project
Cross platform build files support developers working on different operating systems
On any project with more than a few source files
Every day for every build…

5. build.xml
<?xml version="1.0" ?> <project name="SmallWorld" basedir="." default=“jar“> <target name="compile"> <javac srcdir="." destdir="."/> </target> <target name="jar" depends="compile"> <mkdir dir="."/> <jar destfile="./SmallWorld.jar" basedir="."> <manifest> <attribute name="Main-Class" value="SmallWorld"/> </manifest> </jar> </project>

6. Structure of a Build file
Ant uses a build file (called build.xml by default) for its instructions
First statement should be <?xml version=“1.0”?>

7. Structure of a Build file
Top level XML tag is ‘project’; there should only be one project tag in a build file
<project name=“SmallWorld” default=“jar” basedir=“.”>
This specifies that
The default target for the project named ‘Test’ is ‘jar’
All activity is relative to the directory specified by basedir

8. <target>
A project is made up of a number of targets that tell Ant what it should do
Targets consist of a series of tasks that are specific actions for Ant to take
Targets have these attributes
name (required)
depends (comma separated list of other targets)
If / unless

9. <target name=“compile” …>
Compile some/all of your source files in this target
Feel free to rename it; or have several different compile targets with different names and options
<target name="compile">
<javac srcdir="." destdir="."/>
</target>

10. <target name=“jar” …>
Creates a jar file from the stuff you’ve built
<target name="jar" depends="compile">
<jar destfile="./SmallWorld.jar" basedir=".">
<manifest> <attribute name="Main-Class" value="SmallWorld"/> </manifest>
</jar>
</target>
This builds a jar file
called (in our test project) ‘smallWorld.jar’
in the directory specified by ./
including everything from the ./ directory
A target that depends on another target will demand that the other target get executed first