Bullet Proof Builds
Learn how to create software builds that will stand the test of time and make the world a better place - okay perhaps just your development environment a better place. Builds are usually the tedious work that we all leave to the last minute or sometimes throw together as we build an application. But in most applications, builds contain complex logic and many dependencies, just as the application does. This presentation covers how to make a manageable and enjoyable build system using Apache Ant and a new Ant framework that is part of the JCatapult platform called JCatapult-Ant.
Most companies use the Apache Ant build system either for technical or political reasons. Many developers often wish they could use Maven 1 or 2 because of the plugin structure, dependency management and standardization it provides to applications. Ant sometimes gets a bad rap because it isn't the most simple tool to extend and build files often become large and unmanageable. Plus, Ant extensions are not simple to test and Ant lacks any concept of versioning. Even with all these problems, Ant can still be a great build environment and when used correctly can make creating builds a pleasure.
This presentation covers these topics:
- JCatapult's Ant framework
- Setting up a project
- Adding plugins
- Ant plugins - the what, how and why
- Plugin versioning
- Writing a new plugin
- Using Groovy inside plugins
If you are using Ant for your builds, but want a better solution that includes reusable plugins, dependency management and much more, this presentation will show you how to use JCatapult-Ant to accomplish just that. However, if you aren't able to use JCatapult-Ant, but still want to understand how to create better builds using Apache Ant, this presentation will show you the methodology behind JCatapult-Ant's plugins and allow you to create your own custom plugin system.
Attendees must have a good working knowledge of the Ant build system in order to understand the material in this talk. No other knowledge is required.
About Brian Pontarelli
I am a Technology Entrepreneur with a software development background. Currently, I am focused on solving the technology issues that many companies face for login, registration, and user management. My team and I built FusionAuth: A modern customer identity and access management (CIAM) platform that comes with features not seen in the marketplace today. It allows companies to focus on their core product not the plumbing of identity and user management.
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