Table of Contents
Schmant is a build tool for building and packaging software applications and libraries. It provides an environment for running build scripts and tasks and tools that the scripts may use. Build scripts may be written in JavaScript, Groovy, JRuby or Jython. See the scripting language guides for details.
A Schmant build script has access to all API:s of the Java platform, any number of user-supplied classes, as well as the features of the script language used. It has also access to the file system APIs of EntityFS. This makes it possible to write very powerful and customizable build scripts.
This manual, the User's Guide, is written for users that want to use Schmant for their build scripts. Much of the documentation in this manual is accompanied by concrete, working example scripts written in the different supported script languages.
This manual should be used together with the Task factory index, the API documentation and the EntityFS documentation.
The Task Author's Guide explains how tasks and task factories are implemented.
If you have questions about Schmant that is not answered by the documentation, feel free to ask questions on the user's mailing list.
For programmers that are new to Schmant, the amount of new concepts can sometimes feel daunting. In order to make the most of Schmant, it is important that you feel comfortable with:
Writing scripts in your script language of choice.
Working with EntityFS files, directories and utility classes. Appendix B, EntityFS cookbook gives a short EntityFS introduction.
The roles of tasks and task factories. See Chapter 4, Build scripts and tasks.
How untyped arguments are interpreted by different task and task factory methods. See Chapter 4, Build scripts and tasks.
As always, when writing scripts, first make sure that your script works before you try to make it work faster or be more generic.
Feedback and contributions from users is essential for making Schmant a better application. Please share your thoughts and opinions on Schmant with the rest of the community through the mailing lists.
Schmant is an open source project. It is licensed under the Gnu General Public License, version 2.