What is a Build Tool?

3 min readNov 2, 2020

An automated build tool is a software that compiles source code to machine code. They automate a variety of tasks Such as downloading dependencies, compiling and packaging the codes, running tests, and deployment. They can be used through the command line or tools used to do the coding part. Each build tool is based on its own specific language. For example, Grunt is based on JSON.

Basically, there are three types of build processes that allow the developers to build their software.

1. Continuous Integration [CI] builds: In this practice, developers combine their code multiple times a day with a centralized mainline. When all the developers try to check-in at the last minute before a release, this avoids integration issues with incompatible or buggy code. While deployments require the code to be prepared simply so that it can be run, CI builds include running the code against a test suite.

2. Gated Check-in Builds: In this software pattern, developers must have a gate commit to commit their codes. These gate commits will be handled by the CI server. in this way, they can check whether the changes break the build or not.

3. Nightly builds: these are scheduled builds. that means builds are done at a scheduled time. mostly this process will be done at night times so that the code can be compiled during the non-traffic time.

Advantages of having a build tool

1. A developer can build a project in no time by using these tools.

2. reduces the amount of error.

3. increases the Consistency of the process.

4. when an error occurs, immediately can track the error and the person who is responsible for it.

5. Saving developers from breaking the project.

6. Some build tools can even capture metrics for code coverage, code complexity, and features complete that help developers to control code quality and track efficiency.

7. always shows the state of software so the developer can keep his tracks.

The followings are some of the famous Software build tools.

Gradle