IBM Rational ClearCase, Ant, and CruiseControl: The Java Developers Guide to Accelerating and Automating the Build Process

Preface

This preface discusses my motivations and experience for writing this book and what it is intended to convey. I then describe the book’s framework with a brief description of each chapter. Finally, I discuss how best to read the book, depending on your own role, interests, and experience.

Why This Book Came About

I have always been interested in building software, in taking source code written by me or other people and running it through a magical machine called a compiler. A compiler is black and white: the build either compiles or does not—the feedback is usually pretty instant. On initial consideration, building software sounds simple and not especially important. It’s only when you get drawn in that you realize how fundamental the build ...