Organizations prefer open source tools, which is another compelling reason to use Apache Ant in Java build cycles. Apache Ant plug-ins exist for most platforms, and it's easy to find documentation about building a given Java application with Ant. As a result, it has a well-established user base. Apache Ant, which debuted in 2000, is the oldest, still widely used Java build tool. Here are just a few reasons why using Apache Ant in Java development cycles still makes sense, regardless of the alternatives that currently exist in the industry.ĭevelopers have been using Apache Ant in Java development cycles longer than any other build tool. Yes, more modern build tools, such as Maven and Gradle, address some of Apache Ant's shortcomings, but that doesn't mean you necessarily have to migrate. They enable you to automate the process of compiling Java code, and they can be integrated with continuous integration servers, like Jenkins, in order to facilitate complete CI/CD pipelines for Java applications.

But for large-scale, automated builds, Java build tools, like Apache Ant, are better.

You can also compile code on the command line using a stand-alone tool, like Javac.

How to use apache ant