Ant
Ant is a Java-based build automation tool, primarily used for compiling, testing, and packaging Java applications. It uses XML configuration files (build.xml) to define tasks and dependencies, making it highly customizable and platform-independent. Originally part of the Apache Jakarta project, it has been widely adopted in Java development workflows.
Developers should learn Ant for legacy Java projects or environments where XML-based configuration is preferred, as it provides fine-grained control over build processes. It is particularly useful in scenarios requiring complex, multi-step builds, such as enterprise applications with custom deployment steps. However, for modern projects, newer tools like Maven or Gradle are often recommended due to their dependency management and convention-over-configuration approaches.