Build Tools

Automate your Java build process with modern build automation tools for compilation, dependency management, testing, and deployment.

What's Covered

This section covers build automation tools that streamline Java development workflows, from compiling code to managing dependencies and packaging applications.

Topics

Gradle Build Automation

Modern, flexible build automation tool for Java projects.

You'll learn:

• Gradle Fundamentals

  • Installation and setup
  • Build scripts (Groovy and Kotlin DSL)
  • Tasks and plugins
  • Incremental builds

• Dependency Management

  • Declaring dependencies
  • Repository configuration
  • Version management
  • Dependency resolution

• Multi-Project Builds

  • Project structure and organization
  • Settings.gradle configuration
  • Project dependencies
  • Shared configuration

• Build Lifecycle

  • Build phases and tasks
  • Custom task creation
  • Task dependencies
  • Build optimization

• Publishing and Testing

  • Publishing artifacts
  • Gradle wrapper
  • Testing configuration

Read Gradle Guide →

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Why Build Automation?

Consistency

• Same build process across environments
• Reproducible builds
• Standardized project structure

Efficiency

• Automated compilation and testing
• Fast incremental builds
• Parallel task execution

Dependency Management

• Automatic dependency resolution
• Version conflict handling
• Transitive dependency management

Professional Development

• Industry-standard tooling
• Team collaboration
• Standardized workflows

Build Tool Philosophy

Modern build tools should be:

• Fast - Quick builds with incremental compilation
• Flexible - Customizable for any project structure
• Declarative - Clear, readable build configuration
• Extensible - Rich plugin ecosystem
• Reliable - Consistent, reproducible builds

Getting Started

For Beginners

1. Install Gradle via SDKMAN or manual download
2. Create your first build.gradle file
3. Run basic tasks (build, test, clean)
4. Learn dependency management

For Experienced Developers

Use this as:

• Reference for multi-project builds
• Guide for build optimization
• Configuration best practices
• Dependency management strategies

Gradle vs Maven

Feature	Gradle	Maven
Configuration	Groovy/Kotlin DSL	XML (pom.xml)
Performance	Fast (incremental builds)	Slower (full rebuilds)
Flexibility	Highly flexible	Convention-based
Learning Curve	Moderate	Easier initially
Android	Official build tool	Not supported

Next Steps

After mastering build basics, explore:

• Custom Plugins - Create reusable build logic
• Build Scans - Analyze and optimize builds
• Maven - Alternative build tool
• Advanced Optimization - Fine-tune build performance
• Version Catalogs - Centralize dependency versions