A major time saver if you can figure out how to use it. If you're using Ant, in my experience, throw all your experience w/ setting CLASSPATH out the window, as Ant "takes care of it" for you. Also, getting familiar with the build.xml file takes some doing (to say the least). I've tried twice now to use it for projects, but have always reverted to javac, cp .class files, restart the container. Yes that's a pain in the ass, and there's your answer to "What is Ant used for?".
The documentation is good, and it sure looks like a hell of a tool. Just expect a pretty steep learning/re-learning curve(IMO). Markus: I am not *yet* a Java expert but my comment applies to any language. A "build tool" is a major time-saver and convinience, that is all. You can use command-line javac and produce the same exact code as with ANT or Make, but why torture yourself? A "build tool" allows you to configure locations of source, executables, library files, without having to remember where everything is pulled from, or placed into. Sort of a template for doing with one small command all of the things that would otherwise take several perhaps large complex commands (I do not enjoy typing all that much!) :-) This is especially beneficial for large, complex projects with many source files and classes. A side-benefit of all this is that you will not make as many compile and execution mistakes due to command-line typos (once the ANT script works, it always works). Hope this helps. Frank ----- Original Message ----- From: "Markus Kirsten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 11:50 AM Subject: Re: ANT > I've stumbled or ANT a couple of times but never really figured out what > it really is. Can someone give me a clue on that by not telling me it's > a build tool. So what exactly is a build tool? Why do I need one whe I > can compile eveything i write with javac, either explicit och implicit > by using some fancy IDE? > > Thanks! > > > Markus > > On Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at 07:05 PM, David Mossakowski wrote: > > > Definitely yes. But to make this more of a agree/disagree post let me > > just say that there is something cool about XML. Having a build tool > > based on XML really speaks to me. I never liked batch files, makefiles > > and the like but I got into Ant with no problems and like it. > > > > d. > > > > Frank Welch wrote: > > > >> Seeking feedback, commentaries, alternatives... > >> > >> > >> > >> Is ANT the way to go for: > >> > >> - Linux > >> > >> - Windows 2000 Pro > >> > >> > >> > >> Thanks for any feedback,! > >> > >> > >> > >> Frank > >> > > > > > > -- > > David Mossakowski [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Instinet Corporation 212.310.7275 > > > > > > > > ************************************************************************* > > ****** > > <<Disclaimer>> > > > > This message is intended only for the use of the Addressee and > > may contain information that is PRIVILEGED and/or > > CONFIDENTIAL or both. > > > > This email is intended only for the personal and confidential use > > of the recipient(s) named above. > > > > If the reader of this email is not an intended recipient, you have > > received this email in error and any review, dissemination, > > distribution or copying is strictly prohibited. > > > > If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender > > immediately by return mail and permanently deleting the copy > > you received. > > > > Thank you. > > > > ************************************************************************* > > ****** > > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the > > body > > of the message "signoff SERVLET-INTEREST". > > > > Archives: http://archives.java.sun.com/archives/servlet-interest.html > > Resources: http://java.sun.com/products/servlet/external-resources.html > > LISTSERV Help: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/user/user.html > > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body > of the message "signoff SERVLET-INTEREST". > > Archives: http://archives.java.sun.com/archives/servlet-interest.html > Resources: http://java.sun.com/products/servlet/external-resources.html > LISTSERV Help: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/user/user.html > > ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff SERVLET-INTEREST". Archives: http://archives.java.sun.com/archives/servlet-interest.html Resources: http://java.sun.com/products/servlet/external-resources.html LISTSERV Help: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/user/user.html ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff SERVLET-INTEREST". Archives: http://archives.java.sun.com/archives/servlet-interest.html Resources: http://java.sun.com/products/servlet/external-resources.html LISTSERV Help: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/user/user.html
