Detailed Output of "ant -verbose debug" Command

Android Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Detailed Output of "ant -verbose debug" Command

This section describes the output of the 'ant -verbose debug' command, which provides more details how each of 'aidl', 'aapt', 'javac', 'dex', 'apkbuilder' and 'zipalign' tools are invoked in the Ant build process.

Looking at the default output of the "ant debug" command, we get the idea of what development tools are used in the Ant build file to finish the full build process of an Android project. But if you want to know how those tools are invoked, you need to use the "-verbose" option to see more details.

Let's remove all files generated by the previous build process and run "ant -verbose debug" command on the HelloAndroid project:

C:\herong\HelloAndroid>\local\apache-ant-1.9.5\bin\ant all clean

C:\herong\HelloAndroid>\local\apache-ant-1.9.5\bin\ant -verbose debug

Apache Ant(TM) version 1.9.5 compiled on May 31 2015
Trying the default build file: build.xml
Buildfile: C:\herong\HelloAndroid\build.xml
Detected Java version: 1.8 in: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_45\jre
Detected OS: Windows 7
parsing buildfile C:\herong\HelloAndroid\build.xml with
   URI = file:/C:/herong//HelloAndroid/build.xml
Project base dir set to: C:\herong\HelloAndroid
parsing buildfile jar:file:/C:/local/apache-ant-1.9.5/lib/ant.jar...
 [property] Loading C:\herong\HelloAndroid\local.properties
 [property] Loading C:\herong\HelloAndroid\ant.properties
 [property] Loading Environment env.
Property "env.ANDROID_HOME" has not been set
Importing file C:\herong\HelloAndroid\custom_rules.xml
   from C:\herong\HelloAndroid\build.xml
Cannot find C:\herong\HelloAndroid\custom_rules.xml imported
   from C:\herong\HelloAndroid\build.xml
Importing file C:\local\android-sdk-windows\tools\ant\build.xml
   from C:\herong\HelloAndroid\build.xml
Overriding previous definition of reference to ant.projectHelper
parsing buildfile C:\local\android-sdk-windows\tools\ant\build.xml
   with URI = file:/C:/local/android-sdk-windows/tools/ant/build.xml
Property "key.store" has not been set
 [macrodef] creating macro  do-only-if-not-library
 [macrodef] creating macro  do-only-if-manifest-hasCode
 [macrodef] creating macro  dex-helper
 [macrodef] creating macro  package-helper
 [macrodef] creating macro  zipalign-helper
 [macrodef] creating macro  run-tests-helper
 [macrodef] creating macro  record-build-key
 [macrodef] creating macro  record-build-info
 [macrodef] creating macro  uninstall-helper
Overriding previous definition of reference to ant.projectHelper
Build sequence for target(s) `debug' is [-set-mode-check, -set-d...
Complete build sequence is [-set-mode-check, -set-debug-files, -...

-set-mode-check:

-set-debug-files:

-check-env:
 [checkenv] Android SDK Tools Revision 24.3.3
 [checkenv] Installed at C:\local\android-sdk-windows

-setup:
     [echo] Project Name: HelloAndroid
  [gettype] Project Type: Application

-set-debug-mode:
Property "emma.enabled" has not been set

-debug-obfuscation-check:

-pre-build:

-build-setup:
[getbuildtools] Using latest Build Tools: 22.0.1
 [property] Loading C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\build.prop
Override ignored for property "build.last.target"
Override ignored for property "build.last.is.instrumented"
Override ignored for property "build.last.is.packaging.debug"
Override ignored for property "build.last.is.signing.debug"
     [echo] Resolving Build Target for HelloAndroid...
[gettarget] Project Target:   Android 5.1.1
[gettarget] API level:        22
[gettarget] WARNING: No minSdkVersion value set. Application will
            install on all Android versions.
     [echo] ----------
     [echo] Creating output directories if needed...
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\res because it already ...
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\libs because it already...
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin because it already ...
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\res because it alre...
    [mkdir] Created dir: C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\rsObj
    [mkdir] Created dir: C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\rsLibs
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\gen because it already ...
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes because it ...
    [mkdir] Skipping C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\dexedLibs because i...
     [echo] ----------
     [echo] Resolving Dependencies for HelloAndroid...
[dependency] Library dependencies:
[dependency] No Libraries
[dependency]
[dependency] ------------------
     [echo] ----------
     [echo] Building Libraries with 'debug'...
   [subant] No sub-builds to iterate on

-code-gen:
[mergemanifest] Found Deleted Target File
[mergemanifest] Merging AndroidManifest files into one.
[mergemanifest] Manifest merger disabled. Using project manifest only.
     [echo] Handling aidl files...
     [aidl] No AIDL files to compile.
     [echo] ----------
     [echo] Handling RenderScript files...
     [echo] ----------
     [echo] Handling Resources...
Property "android.library" has not been set
     [aapt] Found Deleted Target File
     [aapt] Generating resource IDs...
     [aapt] Current OS is Windows 7
     [aapt] Executing
'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\build-tools\22.0.1\aapt.exe'
with arguments:
     [aapt] 'package'
     [aapt] '-f'
     [aapt] '-m'
     [aapt] '-0'
     [aapt] 'apk'
     [aapt] '-M'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\AndroidManifest.xml'
     [aapt] '-S'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\res'
     [aapt] '-S'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\res'
     [aapt] '-I'
[aapt] 'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\platforms\android-22\android.jar'
     [aapt] '-J'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\gen'
     [aapt] '--generate-dependencies'
     [aapt] '-G'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\proguard.txt'
     [aapt]
     [aapt] The ' characters around the executable and arguments are
     [aapt] not part of the command.
     [echo] ----------
     [echo] Handling BuildConfig class...
[buildconfig] No need to generate new BuildConfig.

-pre-compile:

-compile:
    [javac] com\herongyang\HelloAndroid.java omitted as
C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes\com\herongyang\HelloAndroid.cla...
    [javac] C:\herong\HelloAndroid\gen\R.java.d skipped - don't kn...
    [javac] com\herongyang\BuildConfig.java omitted as
C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes\com\herongyang\BuildConfig.clas...
    [javac] com\herongyang\R.java added as com\herongyang\R.class ...
[javac] Compiling 1 source file to C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes
    [javac] Using modern compiler
    [javac] Compilation arguments:
    [javac] '-d'
    [javac] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes'
    [javac] '-classpath'
    [javac] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes'
    [javac] '-sourcepath'
    [javac] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\src;C:\herong\HelloAndroid\gen'
    [javac] '-target'
    [javac] '1.5'
    [javac] '-bootclasspath'
[javac] 'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\platforms\android-22\android.jar'
    [javac] '-encoding'
    [javac] 'UTF-8'
    [javac] '-g'
    [javac] '-source'
    [javac] '1.5'
    [javac]
    [javac] The ' characters around the executable and arguments are
    [javac] not part of the command.
    [javac] File to be compiled:
    [javac]     C:\herong\HelloAndroid\gen\com\herongyang\R.java

-post-compile:

-obfuscate:

-dex:
      [dex] input: C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes
      [dex] Found Deleted Target File
      [dex] Converting compiled files and external libraries into
            C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes.dex...
       [dx] Current OS is Windows 7
       [dx] Executing
'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\build-tools\22.0.1\dx.bat'
with arguments:
       [dx] '--dex'
       [dx] '--output'
       [dx] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes.dex'
       [dx] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\classes'
       [dx]
       [dx] The ' characters around the executable and arguments are
       [dx] not part of the command.

-crunch:
   [crunch] Current OS is Windows 7
   [crunch] Executing
'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\build-tools\22.0.1\aapt.exe'
with arguments:
   [crunch] 'crunch'
   [crunch] '-v'
   [crunch] '-S'
   [crunch] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\res'
   [crunch] '-C'
   [crunch] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\res'
   [crunch]
   [crunch] The ' characters around the executable and arguments are
   [crunch] not part of the command.
   [crunch] Crunching PNG Files in source dir:
            C:\herong\HelloAndroid\res
   [crunch] To destination dir: C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\res
   [crunch] Crunched 0 PNG files to update cache

-package-resources:
     [aapt] Found Deleted Target File
     [aapt] Creating full resource package...
     [aapt] Current OS is Windows 7
     [aapt] Executing
'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\build-tools\22.0.1\aapt.exe'
with arguments:
     [aapt] 'package'
     [aapt] '--no-crunch'
     [aapt] '-f'
     [aapt] '--debug-mode'
     [aapt] '-0'
     [aapt] 'apk'
     [aapt] '-M'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\AndroidManifest.xml'
     [aapt] '-S'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\res'
     [aapt] '-S'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\res'
     [aapt] '-I'
[aapt] 'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\platforms\android-22\android.jar'
     [aapt] '-F'
     [aapt] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\HelloAndroid.ap_'
     [aapt] '--generate-dependencies'
     [aapt]
     [aapt] The ' characters around the executable and arguments are
     [aapt] not part of the command.

-package:
[apkbuilder] Found Deleted Target File
[apkbuilder] Creating HelloAndroid-debug-unaligned.apk and signing it
             with a debug key...

-post-package:

-do-debug:
 [zipalign] Running zip align on final apk...
[zip-align] Current OS is Windows 7
[zip-align] Executing
'C:\local\android-sdk-windows\build-tools\22.0.1\zipalign.exe'
with arguments:
[zip-align] '-f'
[zip-align] '4'
[zip-align]
'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\HelloAndroid-debug-unaligned.apk'
[zip-align] 'C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\HelloAndroid-debug.apk'
[zip-align]
[zip-align] The ' characters around the executable and arguments are
[zip-align] not part of the command.
     [echo] Debug Package:
            C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\HelloAndroid-debug.apk
[propertyfile] Updating property file:
            C:\herong\HelloAndroid\bin\build.prop

-post-build:

debug:

BUILD SUCCESSFUL
Total time: 2 seconds

Wow! I can see more useful information in the output now:

"aapt package" command is used in the resource code generation step. Command options and arguments are clearly printed out in the output. We can actually try it yourself without use "ant".
Command options and arguments of "javac" command are also printed in the output for the Java compilation step.
The "dex" tool is actually invoked from the dx.bat batch file for the byte code conversion step.
The "aapt crunch" tool is actually used in the packaging step.
There are no details about the "apkbuilder" in package signing step.
Command options and arguments of "zipalign" command are also printed in the output for the package optimization step.