Ant is a Java-based build tool that uses XML configuration files called build files to compile, test, and package Java applications. It provides a standard way to build Java projects independent of the operating system by using tasks that execute specific actions like compilation and packaging. The document discusses what Ant is, why it was created, how to install it, how to write a basic build file, and provides an example of using Ant to compile, package, and run a simple "Hello World" Java application.

1. Apache Ant Hussain Fakhruddin [email_address]

3. What is Ant “ Apache Ant is a Java-based build tool. In theory, it is kind of like Make, but without Make's wrinkles” -Apache Ant Website

7. Ant directory structure

12. build.xml ..Cont A build.xml file contains the following: Root Tag : <project> Child Tag: <target> (at least one) Sub Child Tag: <task>

13. Sample build.xml <project name=&quot;example&quot; default=&quot;hello&quot;> <target name=&quot;hello&quot;> <echo message=&quot;My First Ant&quot; /> </target> </project> Project tag(only one ) Task tag Target Tag (at least one)

14. Output

20. Sample build.xml with properties <project name=&quot;MyProject&quot; default=&quot;dist&quot; basedir=&quot;.&quot;> <description> simple example build file </description> <!-- set global properties for this build --> <property name=&quot;src&quot; location=&quot;src&quot;/> <property name=&quot;build&quot; location=&quot;build&quot;/> <property name=&quot;dist&quot; location=&quot;dist&quot;/> <target name=&quot;init&quot;> <!-- Create the time stamp --> <tstamp/> <!-- Create the build directory structure used by compile --> <mkdir dir=&quot;${build}&quot;/> </target> <target name=&quot;compile&quot; depends=&quot;init&quot; description=&quot;compile the source &quot; > <!-- Compile the java code from ${src} into ${build} --> <javac srcdir=&quot;${src}&quot; destdir=&quot;${build}&quot;/> </target> <target name=&quot;dist&quot; depends=&quot;compile&quot; description=&quot;generate the distribution&quot; > <!-- Create the distribution directory --> <mkdir dir=&quot;${dist}/lib&quot;/> <!-- Put everything in ${build} into the MyProject-${DSTAMP}.jar file --> <jar jarfile=&quot;${dist}/lib/MyProject-${DSTAMP}.jar&quot; basedir=&quot;${build}&quot;/> </target> <target name=&quot;clean&quot; description=&quot;clean up&quot; > <!-- Delete the ${build} and ${dist} directory trees --> <delete dir=&quot;${build}&quot;/> <delete dir=&quot;${dist}&quot;/> </target> </project>

21. Hello World with Ant Lets compile , pack and run a simple Hello World program in Java. Step 1: Write your Java source code Step 2: Write a build.xml file Step 3: Run Ant with the build.xml

22. Step 1: Write a simple Hello World in Java public class HelloWorld{ public static void main(String []args) { System.out.println(“Hi, I am from Ant”); } }

24. build.xml ..cont. Write a project with tasks to compile, package clean and run <project name=&quot;Hello World&quot; default=&quot;compile&quot;> <target name=&quot;compile&quot;> <mkdir dir=&quot;dist&quot; /> <javac srcdir=&quot;.&quot; destdir=&quot;dist&quot; /> </target> </project> Make a directory called “dist” Provide source and destination directories

25. build.xml ..cont <project name=&quot;Hello World&quot; default=&quot;compile&quot;> <target name=&quot;jar&quot;> <mkdir dir=&quot;dist/jar&quot;/> <jar destfile=&quot;dist/jar/HelloWorld.jar&quot; basedir=&quot;dist&quot;> <manifest> <attribute name=&quot;Main-Class&quot; value=&quot;HelloWorld&quot;/> </manifest> </jar> </target> <target name=&quot;compile&quot;> <mkdir dir=&quot;dist&quot; /> <javac srcdir=&quot;.&quot; destdir=&quot;dist&quot; /> </target> </project> Package Class Name

26. build.xml ..cont <project name=&quot;Hello World&quot; default=&quot;compile&quot;> <target name=&quot;run&quot;> <java jar=&quot;dist/jar/HelloWorld.jar&quot; fork=&quot;true&quot;/> </target> <target name=&quot;clean&quot;> <delete dir=&quot;dist&quot;/> </target> <target name=&quot;jar&quot;> <mkdir dir=&quot;dist/jar&quot;/> <jar destfile=&quot;dist/jar/HelloWorld.jar&quot; basedir=&quot;dist&quot;> <manifest> <attribute name=&quot;Main-Class&quot; value=&quot;HelloWorld&quot;/> </manifest> </jar> </target> <target name=&quot;compile&quot;> <mkdir dir=&quot;dist&quot; /> <javac srcdir=&quot;.&quot; destdir=&quot;dist&quot; /> </target> </project> delete the directory created by <mkdir> in the beginning Execute this jar file

27. Run the Ant Place your files in the classpath and execute: ant compile ant jar ant run or simply, ant compile jar run

28. Output

29. Ant Resources Homepage: http://ant.apache.org User Manual: http://jakarta.apache.org/ant/manual/index.html Wiki: http://wiki.apache.org/ant/FrontPage FAQ: http://ant.apache.org/faq.html Books: http://sourceforge.net/projects/antbook Contribution: http://www.apache.org/foundation/contributing.html

30. Queries?

31. Thanks for your time About the Author: Hussain Fakhruddin [email_address]