ant

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.

-f file, -buildfile file

Build file (default: build.xml)

Set property value

List available targets

Minimal output

Verbose output

Debug output

Output without adornment

Print nothing but task outputs and build failures

Execute all targets that do not depend on failed targets

Specify a path to search for jars and classes

Write log output to the given file

Class that performs logging

Load all properties from file (-D properties take precedence)

Do not allow interactive input

Search for the buildfile towards the root of the filesystem and use it

Niceness for the main thread: 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), default 5

Print information helpful for diagnosing problems and exit

Show version

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 Largely superseded by Maven and Gradle for modern Java projects.

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.

mvn(1), gradle(1), make(1)

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