Apache Ant is a Java-based build tool used to standardize and automate build and run environments for development. Ant build scripts are XML files that contain targets, which in turn contain tasks. Ant tasks are executable bits of code that handle the processing instruction for your source code. For example, you use the javac task to compile code, the java task to execute a class, and so forth. You can use Ant's built-in tasks, use tasks written by third parties, or write your own Ant tasks.
For more information about Ant, see:
The IDE's project system is built directly on top of Ant version 1.7.1. All of the project commands, like Build Project or Run File in Debugger, call targets in the project's Ant script. You can therefore build and run your project outside the IDE exactly as it is built and run inside the IDE.
You do not need to be familiar with Ant to work with the IDE. You can set all the basic compilation and runtime options in your project's Project Properties dialog box and the IDE automatically updates the project's Ant script. If you know how to work with Ant, you can customize a 's Ant script or write your own Ant script for your project.
For more help with the IDE's Ant support, see the NetBeans Ant FAQ at: