Ant Tool <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Introduction to Ant(Another Neat Tool)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ant is an open source build technology developed by Apache intended to build processes in Java Environment. It is a similar kind of tool like make, but it does not use shell commands to extend the functionality. The use of shell commands in make brings about the integrity with other languages too but this also makes it platform specific. In contract, Ant is based on XML and uses java classes in automatic generation of build processes that makes it platform independent. It is applicable to any integrated development environment (IDE) that uses Java. A build file is generally named as build.xml.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The best features of the Ant Technology can be summarized as bellow<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Easy to Use</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: It is not a programming language; it is an XML based scripting tool, therefore easy to understand and implement.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Portable and Cross-Platform based</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Use of Java Classes makes it portable, i.e. it can be run on any operating system.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Extended Functionality</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Ant is based on java platform, that’s why its functionality can be extended to any development environment based on java. It is easier to implement than any specific IDE because it is automated.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Build Automation</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Ant provides automated build process that is faster and more efficient than manual procedures and other build tools can also be integrated with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Compilation of Source Code</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Ant can use and compile source code from a variety of version controls and packaging of the compiled code and resources can also be done.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Handling Dependencies between Targets</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: An Ant project describes the target and takes associated with it and also handle dependencies between various targets tasks.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Ant Definition<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Apache Ant is an open source cross-platform based build tool that is used to describe a build process and its dependencies and implemented in XML scripts using java classes that ensures its extensibility to any development environment (based on java) and is integrity with other build tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ant Installation:<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ant is free and open source build tool, written in java, helps in automating the entire build process of a java development project.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ant uses XML build files.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By default, Ant looks for a build file named build.xml.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The build file contains information about how to build a particular project.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Each project contains multiple targets like creating directory, compiling source codes.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Target can depend on other targets.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Behind each task is a Java class that performs the described work.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To install Ant follow the steps given below.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">aa)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Down ant latest or required version from Apache Foundation website<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> <b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgi">http://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgi</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"> <b><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;">b) </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Extract Zip file to your local Disk say “E:” drive<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">D:\apache-ant-1.8.2<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"> <b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">c)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Set the ANT_HOME environment variable to point to the ant installation directory.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ANT_HOME=E:\apache-ant-1.8.2<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">d)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to point to the JDK location.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> <b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JAVA_HOME=E: \JDK1.5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">e)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Add ANT_HOME/bin and JAVA_HOME/bin to your system’s <b>PATH </b>environment variable.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"> <b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">PATH=E:\apache-ant-1.8.2\bin; D:\JDK1.5\bin;.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To make sure the installation is proper, go to command prompt and execute the command ant.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoListParagraph"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"> <br /></div> ............Continue Next Post<br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"> <br /></div> </div> Ant Tool 11. Introduction to Ant(Another Neat Tool) Ant is an open source build technology developed by Apache intended to build processes in... Read more »
Ant Tool
Ant Tool
