2. INTRODUCTION
A build tool can be used to automate certain repetitive tasks for
example compiling source code, running software tests and
creating files and documentation for the software deployment.
Build tools typically run without a graphical user interface.
Popular build tools used by Java developers are Apache Ant and
Maven.
3. APACHE ANT OVERVIEW
Apache Ant (Ant) is a general purpose build tool. Ant is an abbreviation for
“Another Neat Tool”.
Ant is primarily used for building and deploying Java projects.
A Java build process typically includes:
the compilation of the Java source code into Java bytecode
creation of the .jar file for the distribution of the code
creation of the Javadoc documentation
Ant uses an xml file for its configuration. This file is usually called build.xml.
Ant builds are based on three blocks: tasks, targets and extension points.
A task is a unit of work which should be performed and are small, atomic
steps, for example compile source code or create Javadoc. Tasks can be
grouped into targets.
A target can be directly invoked via Ant. Targets can specify their
dependencies. Ant will automatically execute dependent targets. For example
if target A depends on B, than Ant will first perform B and then A. You can
specify the default target in your build.xml file. Ant will execute this target, if
no explicit target is specified.
4. HOW TO USE APACHE ANT
Create a Java Project called com.fedex.build.ant.first in Eclipses.
Create a package called test.
package test;
public class MyTest
{
public int multi(int number1, int number2)
{
return number1 * number2;
}
}
package test;
import test.MyTest;
public class Main
{
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyTest test = new MyTest();
System.out.println("Result is: " +
test.multi(5, 10));
}
}
5. CREATE BUILD.XML FILE & RUN FROM
ECLIPSE
Click on the build.xml file to review and understand it.
Running from Eclipse i.e.
Running From Command Line:
Open a command line and switch
to your project directory. Type in
"ant" or "ant -f build.xml" to start
the build process.
6. APACHE ANT CLASSPATH
Ant also allows to create classpath containers and use them in
tasks. The following build_classpath.xml from a project called
com.fedex.build.ant.classpath demonstrates this concept:
To print the classpath for debugging:
<!-- Write the classpath to the console. Helpful for debugging -->
<!-- Create one line per classpath element-->
<pathconvert pathsep="${line.separator}" property="echo.classpath" refid="junit.class.path">
</pathconvert>
<!-- Write the result to the console -->
<echo message="The following classpath is associated with junit.class.path" />
<echo message="${echo.classpath}" />
7. RUNNING JUNITS VIA ANT
Ant allows to run JUnit tests. Ant defines JUnit task. You only need to
include the junit.jar and the compiled classes into the classpath for
Ant and then you can run JUnit tests. Below is an example:
You can run this JUnit unit test via the following build_junit.xml. This
example assumes that the JUnit jar "junit.jar" is located in “lib” folder.
package test;
import math.MyMath;
import org.junit.Test;
import static
org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
public class MyMathTest {
@Test
public void testMulti() {
MyMath math = new MyMath();
assertEquals(50, math.multi(5, 10));
}
}
8. ANT TIPS
Eclipse has an ant editor which make the editing of ant file very easy by
providing syntax checking of the build file. Eclipse has also a ant view. In this
view you execute ant files via double-clicking on the target.
Apache Ant allows to convert relative paths to absolute paths i.e.
<property name="my.config" value="../my-config.xml"/>
<makeurl file="${my.config}" property="my.config.url"/>
Ant can be used to replace text based on regular expressions i.e.
<target name="regular-expressions">
<!-- Replace tabs with two spaces -->
<replaceregexp flags="gs">
<regexp pattern="(t)" />
<substitution expression=" " />
<fileset dir="${outputtmp.dir}/">
<include name="**/*" /> </fileset>
</replaceregexp>
</target>
