Grid-enabled ANT compatible with both stand-alone and grid-based computing systems

• US 20050114834A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Richards, Patrick J. Jr., Trevathan, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing

Abstract

A grid-enabled ANT system that includes ANT XML task files that can run on both grid-enabled machines or stand-alone computers is disclosed. A network file server is used to store files accessed during the build process, and ANT'"'"'s standard XML tagging and parameters are used, thus enabling the user to use a standardized format for entering XML information. This grid-enabled ANT is transparent to the user since ANT parses the tasks and automatically sends jobs to the grid, when appropriate, instead of the user deciding which tasks to implement as grid tasks.

Claims

1. A method of enabling an ANT XML task file running on a first server to be useable in both a grid and non-grid environment without user modification, comprising the steps of:

storing parseable files referred to by said ANT XML task file on a second server; and

configuring said ANT XML task file to direct a processor processing said ANT XML task file to search said first server for said parseable files;

whereby, when said first server has access to a grid environment, said parseable files are scheduled for grid processing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

configuring said parseable files to generate individual ANT XML task files, each of which are processable as jobs by a grid processing system, prior to storing said parseable files on said second server.

3. The method of claim 2, whereby when said second server does not have access to a grid environment, said parseable files are processed by said first server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending a status indication to said first server after the completion of grid processing of each of said parseable files, said status indication indicating at least the completion of the processing and any errors occurring during the processing.

5. A system for enabling an ANT XML task file running on a first server to be useable in both a grid and non-grid environment without user modification, comprising:

means for storing parseable files referred to by said ANT XML task file on a second server; and

means for configuring said ANT XML task file to direct a processor processing said ANT XML task file to search said first server for said parseable files;

whereby, when said first server has access to a grid environment, said parseable files are scheduled for grid processing.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for configuring said parseable files to generate individual ANT XML task files, each of which are processable as jobs by a grid processing system, prior to storing said parseable files on said second server.

7. The system of claim 6, whereby when said second server does not have access to a grid environment, said parseable files are processed by said first server.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for sending a status indication to said first server after the completion of grid processing of each of said parseable files, said status indication indicating at least the completion of the processing and any errors occurring during the processing.

9. A computer program product for enabling an ANT XML task file running on a first server to be useable in both a grid and non-grid environment without user modification, the computer program product comprising a computer-readble storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that stores parseable files referred to by said ANT XML task file on a second server; and

computer-readable program code that configures said ANT XML task file to direct a processor processing said ANT XML task file to search said first server for said parseable files;

whereby, when said first server has access to a grid environment, said parseable files are scheduled for grid processing.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

computer-readable program code that configures said parseable files to generate individual ANT XML task files, each of which are processable as jobs by a grid processing system, prior to storing said parseable files on said second server.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, whereby when said second server does not have access to a grid environment, said parseable files are processed by said first server.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

computer-readable program code that sends a status indication to said first server after the completion of grid processing of each of said parseable files, said status indication indicating at least the completion of the processing and any errors occurring during the processing.