Apache Ant

Apache Ant: A Java-based development tool that can drive processes described in build files as interdependent targets and extension points

Apache Ant (Another Neat Tool) is a Java-based application that lets you efficiently automate software building tasks.

Apache Ant resembles the Make tool and uses XML. It works especially well for designing Java projects. It was initially designed as a program that allowed developers to build an application using the directives found in a build.xml file.

This is a command-line tool and Java library that can drive processes found in build files as interdependent targets and extension points. While it’s best used for developing Java software it also works for other applications, like the ones built in C or C++. To sum up, Apache Ant can automate almost any kind of process that is describes using tasks and targets.

Users can also develop their own Ant libraries, containing a custom set of Ant types and tasks. You can already find a variety of open-source and commercial ‚antlibs’, if you don’t want to make your own.