Apache Ant

aid: apache-ant
name: Apache Ant
description: Apache Ant is a Java-based build tool and library developed by the Apache Software Foundation, used to automate
  software build processes. It uses XML-based build files to define targets and tasks for compiling, testing, packaging, and
  deploying Java applications. Ant provides a Java API for programmatic build execution, custom task (Antlib) development,
  and build file manipulation. The companion Apache Ivy project provides dependency management and artifact resolution for
  Ant-based builds.
type: Index
accessModel:
  pricing: freemium
  onboarding: unknown
  trial: false
  try_now: false
  public: false
  label: Freemium
  confidence: medium
  source:
  - plans
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
position: Consumer
access: 3rd-Party
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/icons/apache-ant.png
tags:
- Apache
- Automation
- Build Tool
- CI/CD
- Java
- Open Source
- XML
created: '2026-03-16'
modified: '2026-04-19'
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/apache-ant/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- aid: apache-ant:apache-ant-build-tool
  name: Apache Ant Build Tool
  description: Apache Ant provides a Java library and command-line tool for automating build processes through XML-based build
    files. It supports compilation, testing, packaging, and deployment of Java and non-Java projects. Ant exposes a Java API
    for programmatic build execution and custom task (Antlib) development.
  humanURL: https://ant.apache.org/manual/index.html
  tags:
  - Build
  - Java
  - XML
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://ant.apache.org/manual/index.html
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://ant.apache.org/manual/tutorial-HelloWorldWithAnt.html
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://ant.apache.org/manual/api/index.html
- aid: apache-ant:apache-ivy
  name: Apache Ivy
  description: Apache Ivy is a dependency manager for Ant builds, enabling declaration, resolution, and retrieval of project
    dependencies from Maven repositories and other sources. It integrates directly into Ant build files and provides rich
    dependency resolution capabilities including conflict management, transitive dependencies, and artifact caching.
  humanURL: https://ant.apache.org/ivy/
  tags:
  - Dependency Management
  - Java
  - Maven
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://ant.apache.org/ivy/
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://ant.apache.org/ivy/history/latest-milestone/tutorial/start.html
common:
- type: VulnerabilityDisclosure
  url: security/apache-ant-vulnerability-disclosure.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/apache-ant-domain-security.yml
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/apache
- type: GitHubRepository
  url: https://github.com/apache/ant
- type: GitHubRepository
  url: https://github.com/apache/ant-ivy
- type: Documentation
  url: https://ant.apache.org/
- type: GettingStarted
  url: https://ant.apache.org/manual/tutorial-HelloWorldWithAnt.html
- type: FAQ
  url: https://ant.apache.org/faq.html
- type: Support
  url: https://ant.apache.org/mail.html
- type: TermsOfService
  url: https://www.apache.org/licenses/
- type: ChangeLog
  url: https://ant.apache.org/antnews.html
- type: SDKs
  url: https://search.maven.org/artifact/org.apache.ant/ant
  title: Maven Central (org.apache.ant:ant)
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: XML Build Files
    description: Define build processes using XML-based build files (build.xml) with targets, properties, and tasks.
  - name: Rich Built-In Tasks
    description: Over 150 built-in tasks for file operations, compilation, testing, archiving, and network operations.
  - name: Custom Antlib Tasks
    description: Extend Ant with custom task libraries (Antlibs) written in Java for project-specific automation.
  - name: Java API
    description: Programmatic Java API for embedding Ant build execution within applications and test frameworks.
  - name: Cross-Platform
    description: Runs on any Java-supported platform including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  - name: Apache Ivy Integration
    description: First-class dependency management via Apache Ivy for resolving Maven and Ivy repositories.
  - name: CI/CD Integration
    description: Integrates with Jenkins, TeamCity, Bamboo, and other CI systems via command-line invocation.
  - name: Java Version Compatibility
    description: Supports Java 8 and higher (Ant 1.10.x), with broad backward compatibility for legacy build files.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Java Application Builds
    description: Compile, test, package, and deploy Java applications using declarative XML build scripts.
  - name: Legacy Build Automation
    description: Maintain and modernize legacy Java build systems that predate Maven and Gradle.
  - name: Custom Build Orchestration
    description: Orchestrate complex multi-step build processes with conditional logic and property-driven configuration.
  - name: Ant-Based CI Pipelines
    description: Run Ant targets as build steps in Jenkins, TeamCity, or other CI/CD systems.
  - name: Dependency Management with Ivy
    description: Resolve and cache project dependencies from Maven Central and custom repositories using Apache Ivy.
  - name: Non-Java Build Automation
    description: Automate C/C++ or other non-Java project builds using Ant's exec and cc tasks.
- type: Integrations
  data:
  - name: Apache Maven
    description: Interoperate with Maven repositories for dependency resolution via Apache Ivy.
  - name: Jenkins
    description: Invoke Ant targets as Jenkins build steps using the Ant Jenkins plugin.
  - name: Eclipse
    description: Built-in Ant support in Eclipse IDE for running and debugging Ant build files.
  - name: IntelliJ IDEA
    description: Native Ant tool window in IntelliJ IDEA for running and navigating Ant targets.
  - name: JUnit
    description: Built-in JUnit task for running and reporting unit tests within Ant builds.
  - name: Checkstyle
    description: Checkstyle Ant task for static code analysis and style enforcement.
  - name: FindBugs / SpotBugs
    description: FindBugs and SpotBugs Ant tasks for static analysis of Java bytecode.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: info@apievangelist.com