Ant

Apache Ant, a build tool for Java (similar to Make/Makefiles)

The short version:

• Ant is similar in purpose to Make/Makefiles for C/C++

Differences between Ant and make

• XML syntax instead of ideosyncratic Makefile syntax (tabs? what?)
• Built in Java, so its ostensibly portable like Java (Makefiles are very Unix centric)
• You control your project with a file called build.xml instead of Makefile
• You type ant instead of make, or, for example:
  • ant compile instead of make executablename
  • ant clean instead of make clean

There is more information about Ant at the CS56 page for Ant