Ant is a Java-based build tool that allows developers to compile, test, and package Java applications. It provides a way to automate build processes through XML build files. Ant files work cross-platform and allow tasks to be declared in a platform-independent way. Common tasks include compiling Java code, creating JAR files, copying files, and more. Ant is widely used for Java projects due to its flexibility and cross-platform capabilities.

1. ANT:ANT:
Another Nice ToolAnother Nice Tool

2. What is Ant?What is Ant?
 Java-based Build tool from ApacheJava-based Build tool from Apache
 De facto standard for building, packaging, andDe facto standard for building, packaging, and
installing Java applicationsinstalling Java applications
 Accomplishes same objectives thatAccomplishes same objectives that makemake does ondoes on
Unix based systemsUnix based systems
 Files are written in XMLFiles are written in XML

3. Why Ant?Why Ant?
 Unlike makefiles, Ant files work cross platformUnlike makefiles, Ant files work cross platform
- No need for multiple, complex makefiles- No need for multiple, complex makefiles
depending on the operating system.depending on the operating system.
- Tasks declared in platform independent way;- Tasks declared in platform independent way;
Ant engine translates to OS specific commands.Ant engine translates to OS specific commands.
 Easy to create own Ant “tasks”, in addition toEasy to create own Ant “tasks”, in addition to
core taskscore tasks

4. Installing AntInstalling Ant
 Download Ant binary distribution from:Download Ant binary distribution from:
http://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgihttp://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgi
 Set ANT_HOME to where you installed AntSet ANT_HOME to where you installed Ant
 Include $ANT_HOME/bin in PATHInclude $ANT_HOME/bin in PATH
 Make sure JAVA_HOME is set to point to JDKMake sure JAVA_HOME is set to point to JDK

5. Running AntRunning Ant
 TypeType “ant”“ant” at the command lineat the command line
 Automatically looks for build.xml file in currentAutomatically looks for build.xml file in current
directory to rundirectory to run
 TypeType “ant –buildfile“ant –buildfile buildfile.xmlbuildfile.xml”” to specifyto specify
another build file to run.another build file to run.

6. Ant OutputAnt Output

7. Sample build.xmlSample build.xml
<project name="MyProject" default="dist" basedir="."><project name="MyProject" default="dist" basedir=".">
<property name="src" location="src"/><property name="src" location="src"/>
<property name="build" location="build"/><property name="build" location="build"/>
<property name="dist" location="dist"/><property name="dist" location="dist"/>
<target name="init"><target name="init">
<tstamp/><tstamp/>
<mkdir dir="${build}"/><mkdir dir="${build}"/>
</target></target>
<target name="compile" depends="init" ><target name="compile" depends="init" >
<javac srcdir="${src}" destdir="${build}"/><javac srcdir="${src}" destdir="${build}"/>
</target></target>
<target name="dist" depends="compile" ><target name="dist" depends="compile" >
<mkdir dir="${dist}/lib"/><mkdir dir="${dist}/lib"/>
<jar jarfile="${dist}/lib/MyProject-${DSTAMP}.jar" basedir="${build}"/><jar jarfile="${dist}/lib/MyProject-${DSTAMP}.jar" basedir="${build}"/>
</target></target>
<target name="clean" ><target name="clean" >
<delete dir="${build}"/><delete dir="${build}"/>
<delete dir="${dist}"/><delete dir="${dist}"/>
</target></target>
</project></project>

8. Ant Overview: ProjectAnt Overview: Project
 Each build file contains exactly one project andEach build file contains exactly one project and
at least one targetat least one target
 Project tags specify the basic project attributesProject tags specify the basic project attributes
and have 3 properties:and have 3 properties:
- name- name
- default target- default target
- basedir- basedir
 Example: <project name=“MyProject” default=“build” basedir=“.”>Example: <project name=“MyProject” default=“build” basedir=“.”>

9. Ant Overview: TargetsAnt Overview: Targets
 Target is a build module in AntTarget is a build module in Ant
 Each target contains task(s) for Ant to doEach target contains task(s) for Ant to do
 One must be a project defaultOne must be a project default
 Overall structure of targets:Overall structure of targets:
<target name="A"/><target name="A"/>
<target name="B" depends="A"/><target name="B" depends="A"/>
<target name="C" depends="B"/><target name="C" depends="B"/>
<target name="D" depends="C,B,A"/><target name="D" depends="C,B,A"/>

10. Ant Overview: TasksAnt Overview: Tasks
 Each target comprises one or more tasksEach target comprises one or more tasks
 Task is a piece of executable Java code (e.g.Task is a piece of executable Java code (e.g.
javac, jar, etc)javac, jar, etc)
 Tasks do the actual “build” work in AntTasks do the actual “build” work in Ant
 Ant has core (built in) tasks and the ability toAnt has core (built in) tasks and the ability to
create own taskscreate own tasks

11. Ant Overview: TasksAnt Overview: Tasks
Example:Example:
<target name="prepare" depends="init“ ><target name="prepare" depends="init“ >
<mkdir dir="${build}" /><mkdir dir="${build}" />
</target></target>
<target name="build" depends="copy" ><target name="build" depends="copy" >
<javac srcdir="src" destdir="${build}"><javac srcdir="src" destdir="${build}">
<include name="**/*.java" /><include name="**/*.java" />
</javac></javac>
</target></target>

12. Ant Overview: Core TasksAnt Overview: Core Tasks
 javac – Runs the Java Compilerjavac – Runs the Java Compiler
 java – Runs the Java Virtual Machinejava – Runs the Java Virtual Machine
 jar (and war) – Create JAR filesjar (and war) – Create JAR files
 mkdir – Makes a directorymkdir – Makes a directory
 copy – Copies files to specified locationcopy – Copies files to specified location
 delete – Deletes specified filesdelete – Deletes specified files
 cvs – Invokes CVS commands from Antcvs – Invokes CVS commands from Ant

13. Ant Overview: Writing Own TaskAnt Overview: Writing Own Task
 Create a Java class that extendsCreate a Java class that extends org.apache.tools.ant.Taskorg.apache.tools.ant.Task
 For each attribute, write a setter method that isFor each attribute, write a setter method that is
public voidpublic void and takes a single argumentand takes a single argument
 Write aWrite a public void execute()public void execute() method, with nomethod, with no
arguments, that throws a BuildException -- thisarguments, that throws a BuildException -- this
method implements the task itselfmethod implements the task itself

14. Ant Overview: PropertiesAnt Overview: Properties
 Special task for setting up build file properties:Special task for setting up build file properties:
 Example:Example:
<property name=“src” value=“/home/src”/><property name=“src” value=“/home/src”/>
 Can use ${src} anywhere in build file toCan use ${src} anywhere in build file to
denote /home/srcdenote /home/src
 Ant provides access to all system properties as ifAnt provides access to all system properties as if
defined by thedefined by the <property><property> tasktask

15. Ant Overview: Path StructuresAnt Overview: Path Structures
 Ant provides means to set various environmentAnt provides means to set various environment
variables like PATH and CLASSPATH.variables like PATH and CLASSPATH.
 Example of setting CLASSPATH:Example of setting CLASSPATH:
<classpath><classpath>
<pathelement path="${classpath}"/><pathelement path="${classpath}"/>
<pathelement location="lib/helper.jar"/><pathelement location="lib/helper.jar"/>
</classpath></classpath>

16. Command Line ArgumentsCommand Line Arguments
 -buildfile-buildfile buildfilebuildfile – specify build file to use– specify build file to use
 targetnametargetname – specify target to run (instead of– specify target to run (instead of
running default)running default)
 -verbose, -quiet, -debug-verbose, -quiet, -debug – Allows control– Allows control
over the logging information Ant outputsover the logging information Ant outputs
 --loggerlogger classnameclassname – Allows user to specify– Allows user to specify
their own classes for logging Ant eventstheir own classes for logging Ant events

17. IDE IntegrationIDE Integration
 Eclipse, NetBeans, JBuilder, VisualAge, andEclipse, NetBeans, JBuilder, VisualAge, and
almost any other Java IDE has Ant integrationalmost any other Java IDE has Ant integration
built-in to the systembuilt-in to the system
 Refer to each IDE’s documentation for how toRefer to each IDE’s documentation for how to
use Ant with that IDEuse Ant with that IDE

18. Web Development with AntWeb Development with Ant
 Tomcat comes with special Ant tasks to easeTomcat comes with special Ant tasks to ease
Web application development and deploymentWeb application development and deployment
 CopyCopy $TOMCAT_HOME/server/lib/catalina-ant.jar$TOMCAT_HOME/server/lib/catalina-ant.jar toto
$ANT_HOME/lib$ANT_HOME/lib
 Ant tasks for Tomcat:Ant tasks for Tomcat:
- install- install
- reload- reload
- deploy- deploy
- remove- remove

19. Documentation/ReferencesDocumentation/References
 Download:Download: http://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgihttp://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgi
 User Manual:User Manual: http://ant.apache.org/manual/index.htmlhttp://ant.apache.org/manual/index.html