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Build Systems

Choose a build system

Have you heard of build automation utilities? If you don't want to manage and compile your software and dependencies by hand with every release, you can rely on build automation utilities to compile and package your source code, manage dependencies, and run automated tests. Three build systems are predominantly used for Java development:

LITIENGINE itself is built upon Gradle and uses it to seamlessly manage its build steps and dependent libraries.

Install and set up a build system

Example: Eclipse + Gradle

Assuming that you chose Eclipse IDE and Gradle, you can create a Gradle project with these steps:

  • download Gradle.
  • create a new directory C:\Gradle and unzip the downloaded file there.
  • add C:\Gradle\[your-gradle-version]\bin to your system's PATH environment variable.
  • if there is no gradle plugin in your Eclipse installation, go to Help -> Eclipse Marketplace to search and install Gradle integration.
  • click File > New > Other and select Gradle Project as wizard.
  • two files are required in a Gradle project's root folder: build.gradle, containing the build tasks, and settings.gradle, containing Gradle settings.

Example: IntelliJ + Gradle

To use Intellij and Gradle, follow these steps:

If you're on linux or mac, you can also use SDKMAN! to manage your Gradle installation. Once you've installed SDKMAN!, type sdk install gradle in your terminal. The latest recommend version of Gradle will be installed automatically for you. It should be registered in your IDE after you restart it. For further information look up the SDKMAN! Docs. In case you use SDKMAN! skip the next three steps.

  • Usually you don't have to install any build tools manually, because they come bundled with IntelliJ. The next three steps in brackets of installing Gradle for IntelliJ below usually only have to be followed if IntelliJ didn't install those build tools in the installation process already.
  • (download Gradle.)
  • (create a new directory C:\Gradle and unzip the downloaded file there.)
  • (add C:\Gradle\[your-gradle-version]\bin to your system's PATH environment variable.)
  • usually the Gradle plugin is already installed in IntelliJ, if not, search for it in the plugin marketplace.
  • create a new project and select Gradle under Build system.
  • two files are required in a Gradle project's root folder: build.gradle, containing the build tasks, and settings.gradle, containing Gradle settings.

intellij_gradle

Example: Intellij + Maven

Getting ready with Intellij and Maven:

If you're on linux or mac, you can also use SKDMAN! to manage your Maven installation. Once you've installed SDKMAN!, type sdk install maven in your terminal. The latest recommend version of Maven will be installed automatically for you. It should be registered in your IDE after you restart it. For further information look up the SDKMAN! Docs. In case you use SDKMAN! skip the next three steps.

  • Usually you don't have to install any build tools manually, because they come bundled with IntelliJ. The next three steps in brackets of installing Maven for IntelliJ below usually only have to be followed if IntelliJ didn't install those build tools in the installation process already.
  • (download Maven.)
  • (create a new directory C:\Maven and unzip the downloaded file there.)
  • (add C:\Maven\[your-maven-version]\bin to your system's PATH environment variable.)
  • usually the Maven plugin is already installed in IntelliJ, if not, search for it in the plugin marketplace.
  • create a new project and select Maven under Build system.
  • one file is required in a Maven project's root folder: pom.xml, containing the information and settings of your project.

intellij_maven


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