Apache Ant vs Apache Maven: What are the differences?

# Apache Ant vs Apache Maven

Apache Ant and Apache Maven are both build tools used in Java development. While they serve similar purposes, they have key differences that set them apart.

1. **Build File Format**: Apache Ant uses XML-based build files that can be more verbose and complex, whereas Apache Maven uses a simplified and convention-based Project Object Model (POM) in XML format.
2. **Dependency Management**: Apache Ant relies on manually downloading and including dependencies in the build script, while Apache Maven handles dependencies automatically by downloading from a central repository.
3. **Plugin Ecosystem**: Apache Ant requires developers to write custom tasks for specific build requirements, whereas Apache Maven has a robust plugin ecosystem that provides pre-defined functionalities for various tasks.
4. **Life Cycle Management**: Apache Ant allows developers to define custom build sequences without a predefined life cycle, while Apache Maven provides a standardized build life cycle with phases like validate, compile, test, package, etc.
5. **Convention over Configuration**: Apache Ant requires explicit configuration for each project, while Apache Maven follows the convention over configuration principle, reducing the need for extensive build configurations.
6. **Ease of Use**: Apache Ant can be more flexible and customizable at the cost of complexity and configuration overhead, while Apache Maven simplifies project setup and maintenance with its opinionated approach.

In Summary, Apache Maven streamlines Java project management with its convention-based structure and automation, while Apache Ant offers more flexibility and customization options in build configuration.