This document provides an overview of Ant, an open source build tool for Java projects. It discusses what Ant is, what it can do, how to install it, and includes an example of a basic Ant build file. The document outlines Ant's capabilities like compiling source code, running tests, packaging code, and handling dependencies. It also mentions common Ant techniques like using simple targets that each perform a single task and using properties files for configurability.

1. An introduction

2. Agenda
Ant, and why to use it
Ant terminology and concepts
Installing and executing Ant
Core Ant tasks
A working build script
Ant techniques and patterns

3. What is ant ?
Ant is the ubiquitous build tool in Java environments
Ant is implemented in Java
Ant is Open Source, maintained by Apache
Ant is cross platform and portable
Ant is well suited to a large number of automation
and scripting tasks
Ant is not a programming language

4. What can Ant do ?
Ant can get source code from version control (CVS)
Ant can compile source code
Ant can run unit tests
Ant can package compiled code and resources
Ant can handle dependencies between targets
Build automation (cron)
More details on all these later...

5. Installation
i. Download the binaries from
http://jakarta.apache.org/ant/index.html,
unzip them to a suitable directory.
ii. Define ANT_HOME to be the location where Ant was
unzipped
iii. Define JAVA_HOME to be the location where the
JDK is installed
iv. Add %ANT_HOME%bin;%JAVA_HOME%bin to
the PATH

6. Ant Basic build.xml example
<?xmlversion="1.0"?>
<project name="test“ default="compile“ basedir=".">
<property name="src“ value="."/>
<property name="build“ value="build"/>
<target name="init">
<mkdirdir="${build}"/>
</target>
<target name="compile“ depends="init">
<!--Compilethejavacode-->
<javac srcdir="${src}“ destdir="${build}"/>
</target>
</project>
1
2
3
4
5

7. Ant techniques & patterns
Use simple targets
Each target do a single well defined job
Use standard targets
Easier for other people
Use properties.xml for configurability