ant

Java-based build automation tool

TLDR

Run default target

$ ant

Run specific target

$ ant [build]

Run with build file

$ ant -f [build.xml] [target]

Run with property

$ ant -Dproperty=[value] [target]

List available targets

$ ant -p

Run quietly

$ ant -q [target]

SYNOPSIS

ant [-f buildfile] [-D property=value] [options] [target]

ant (Another Neat Tool) is a Java-based build tool using XML configuration files. It automates software build processes including compiling, testing, packaging, and deploying Java applications.
Build files (typically build.xml) define targets containing tasks. Ant executes tasks in dependency order, similar to make but using XML syntax and platform-independent operation.

PARAMETERS

-f file, -buildfile file

Build file (default: build.xml)

-D prop=val

Set property value

-p, -projecthelp

List available targets

-q, -quiet

Minimal output

-v, -verbose

Verbose output

-d, -debug

Debug output

-e, -emacs

Output without adornment

-k, -keep-going

Continue on error

-lib path

Additional classpath

-version

Show version

CAVEATS

Requires Java Runtime Environment. XML build files can become verbose for complex projects. Largely superseded by Maven and Gradle for modern Java projects.

HISTORY

Apache Ant was created by James Duncan Davidson as part of the Tomcat project, with the first standalone release in 2000. It was the dominant Java build tool until Maven gained popularity in the mid-2000s.

ant