Beyond Linux From Scratch - Version 6.1

Chapter 11. System Utilities

Apache Ant-1.6.2

Introduction to Apache Ant

The Apache Ant package is a Java-based build tool. In theory, it is kind of like make, but without make's wrinkles. Ant is different. Instead of a model where it is extended with shell-based commands, Ant is extended using Java classes. Instead of writing shell commands, the configuration files are XML-based, calling out a target tree where various tasks get executed. Each task is run by an object that implements a particular task interface.

Package Information

Additional Downloads

Apache Ant Dependencies

Required

JDK-1.5.0

Installation of Apache Ant

[Note]

Note

You may need additional libraries to satisfy the build requirements of various packages installed using Apache Ant. Review the table at http://ant.apache.org/manual/install.html#librarydependencies for any prerequisite libraries you may need. One such library is the JUnit testing framework library. Many Ant-installed packages will use this library to perform the unit tests during the build process. To install the JUnit library along with the Apache Ant package, download it from http://www.junit.org/, unzip the distribution file (requires UnZip-5.52) and copy the junit.jar file into the lib subdirectory of the Apache Ant source tree before beginning the Apache Ant build.

Install Apache Ant by running the following commands: 

patch -Np1 -i ../apache-ant-1.6.2-blfs_install-1.patch

Now, as the root user: 

./build.sh -Ddist.dir=/opt/ant-1.6.2 dist &&
ln -v -sf /etc/ant /opt/ant-1.6.2/etc &&
ln -v -sf ant-1.6.2 /opt/ant

Command Explanations

./build.sh -Ddist.dir=/opt/ant-1.6.2 dist: This command does everything. It builds the package, then installs the package into /opt/ant-1.6.2.

ln -v -sf /etc/ant /opt/ant-1.6.2/etc: The patch changes the configuration directory to /etc/ant to conform with FHS guidelines. This command creates a symlink from the configuration directory back to the installation directory as the package is expecting to find the files there.

ln -v -sf ant-1.6.2 /opt/ant: This command is optional, and creates a convenience symlink.

Configuring Apache Ant

Config Files

/etc/ant/ant.conf, ~/.ant/ant.conf, and ~/.antrc

Configuration Information

Some packages will require ant to be in the search path and the $ANT_HOME environment variable defined. Satisfy these requirements by adding the following lines to /etc/profile or to individual user's ~/.profile or ~/.bashrc files: 

export PATH=$PATH:/opt/ant/bin
export ANT_HOME=/opt/ant

Contents

Installed Programs: ant, antRun, antRun.pl, complete-ant-cmd.pl, runant.pl, and runant.py
Installed Libraries: ant-*.jar, xercesImpl.jar, and xml-apis.jar
Installed Directories: /etc/ant and /opt/ant-1.6.2

Short Descriptions

ant

is a Java based build tool used by many packages instead of the conventional make program.

antRun

is a support script used to start ant build scripts in a given directory.

antRun.pl

is a Perl script that provides similar functionality offered by the antRun script.

complete-ant-cmd.pl

is a Perl script that allows Bash to complete an ant command-line.

runant.pl

is a Perl wrapper script used to invoke ant.

runant.py

is a Python wrapper script used to invoke ant.

ant-*.jar

files are the Apache Ant Java class libraries.

xercesImpl.jar

is a Java class library used by Apache Ant to perform XML parsing.

xml-apis.jar

contains the DOM Java classes required by the Apache Ant XML formatter.

Last updated on 2005-08-14 15:03:38 -0600