TBuild - Build Tool

TBuild is a powerful, user-friendly build tool designed for managing project dependencies and packaging applications. It simplifies the build process with a full graphical interface, so you never have to manually edit XML files. For automation, TBuild also offers a comprehensive CLI mode. No complexity, just simplicity.

Features

• ✅ Dependency Management - Easy management of project dependencies through the GUI
• ✅ Project Packaging - Package your applications efficiently
• ✅ Graphical Interface - Complete GUI support - no manual XML editing needed
• ✅ CLI Mode - Full command-line interface for automation and scripting
• ✅ Project Initialization - Quickly set up new projects with standard structures
• ✅ Lightweight - Fast performance and low resource consumption
• ✅ Platform Independent - Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS (all Java-supporting systems)
• ✅ GUI with Java Swing - Native and responsive user interface
• ✅ No Telemetry - Your data stays yours, no tracking
• ✅ Integration - Seamless integration with TIDE IDE

Requirements

• Java 21 or higher (with jpackage support for installers)
• At least 512 MB RAM
• 50 MB free disk space

Installation and Usage

Download and Run JAR

1. Make sure Java is installed on your system:

   java -version

2. Download the latest TBuild.jar from the releases page or use the pre-compiled JAR in this repository

3. Run the JAR file:

   java -jar TBuild.jar

4. The TBuild tool will open and be ready to use.

How TBuild Works

GUI Mode - Project Management

TBuild's graphical interface makes project management intuitive:

1. Initialize Project: Click "Init" in the GUI
2. Configure Dependencies: Add and manage dependencies through the interface
3. Set Build Options: Configure output, main class, and other settings
4. Build Project: Use the Build button to compile and package
5. View Results: See build output and any errors in the console

CLI Mode - Automation

For automation and CI/CD pipelines, use TBuild's CLI:

# Initialize a new standard project
java -jar TBuild.jar init

# Initialize a new JavaFX project
java -jar TBuild.jar init-javafx

# Build a project
java -jar TBuild.jar build

# Run tests
java -jar TBuild.jar test

# Export as small JAR (without dependencies)
java -jar TBuild.jar export-small

# Export as fat JAR (with dependencies)
java -jar TBuild.jar export

# Build and export as fat JAR (useful for CI/CD)
java -jar TBuild.jar build-export-fat

# Create native installer (Windows MSI, Linux DEB, macOS DMG)
java -jar TBuild.jar jpackage

# Set main class
java -jar TBuild.jar set-main com.example.MyMainClass

# Set version
java -jar TBuild.jar set-version 2.0.0

Example projects

The following projects are getting packaged with TBuild.

1. TIDE (https://github.com/Thillager/TIDE)
2. TBuild (https://github.com/Thillager/TBuild)
3. leer
4. leer

Project Structure

Project/
├── src/
│   ├── main/
│   │   └── java/             # Java source files
│   └── test/
│       └── java/             # JUnit test files
├── libs/                      # External libraries and dependencies
├── out/                       # Compiled output and build artifacts
├── T.xml                      # Project configuration (auto-managed)

Configuration

TBuild manages the T.xml file automatically through its GUI. No manual editing required!

The T.xml contains your project configuration:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<project>
  <mainClass>Main</mainClass>             <!-- Main class to run -->
  <appName>MyApp</appName>                <!-- Application name -->
  <version>1.0.0</version>                <!-- Version string -->
  <winUpgradeUuid>...</winUpgradeUuid>    <!-- Windows installer UUID -->
</project>

GUI Configuration

Simply use TBuild's graphical interface to:

• Set project name and version
• Manage dependencies (search Maven Central)
• Configure build options
• Choose output formats

All changes are automatically saved to T.xml.

Example: Your First Project with TBuild

Step 1: Launch TBuild

java -jar TBuild.jar

Step 2: Create a New Project

Click "Init" in the GUI to initialize a new project.

Step 3: Add Dependencies

Use the Maven library search to find and add dependencies your project needs.

Step 4: Write Your Code

Add your Java source files to the src/main/java/ directory.

Step 5: Build and Package

• Click the Nur Build button to compile your project
• Click the Fat JAR button to create a distribution package

Updates

Frequency

• Updates come whenever I have time, ideas, or bugs to

Troubleshooting

Problem: "Java not found"

Solution: Install Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 21 or higher from java.com

Problem: JAR file won't run

Solution:

# Check Java version
java -version

# Make sure you have Java 21 or higher
# Run with explicit path
java -jar /path/to/TBuild.jar

Problem: Build fails with dependency errors

Solution:

• Use the Maven search panel on the right side to verify and add dependencies
• Check the build log in the console for detailed error messages
• Verify your internet connection for downloading dependencies

Problem: CLI commands not recognized

Solution:

# List available CLI commands by running init without a project
java -jar TBuild.jar invalid-command

Documentation and Links

• Java Documentation: https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/
• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Thillager/TBuild
• TIDE IDE: https://github.com/Thillager/TIDE

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details. This project uses dependencies. The necessary licenses are in THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.md

Built With

TBuild uses the power of proven open-source libraries for reliable dependency management and build capabilities.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

Questions and Support

If you have questions or issues:

• Open a GitHub Issue
• Check existing issues for frequently asked questions

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Maintainer: @Thillager

Good luck building with TBuild!