Chapter 9. Beyond Ant’s core tasks
This chapter covers:
At this point in the book, we have a build file that can build, test, package, run, and distribute a Java library. In the next few chapters, we’ll use it in a bigger application, building, deploying, and testing web and Enterprise Java applications.
Before then we’re going to look at more of Ant’s tasks, exploring the different kinds of tasks that Ant supports: built-in, optional, and third-party. The tasks we’re going to cover can all improve our application’s build in little ways: automating other steps in the process such as patching property and text files, or auditing the source. Together they can automate even more steps of the process of getting software out the door. They also will give the reader a clearer understanding of the nature of the tasks that constitute Ant’s functionality.
Concepts covered in this chapter, especially the different types of tasks and how to load tasks that do not come with Ant, are going to be used throughout the rest of the book. Therefore, even if you aren’t interested in the specific tasks we cover here, please skim the chapter and become familiar with the terminology.