Source build vs Binary build?

Question

Eclipse has a visual properties file tool for graphically composing you ant build.properties files. It makes reference to so-called "binary builds" as well as "source builds". The term source build makes sense: you're compiling sources.

"Binary builds" is throwing me off - is that referring to library (JAR) linking??

score 6 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 02 '18 at 13:39

6

Binary build : The compiled sources and files which will be packaged in the plug-in.
Source build : Selected sources and files which will be packaged without compilation.

also see Feature Manifest Editor

edited Jan 02 '18 at 13:39

TmTron

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answered Mar 08 '14 at 14:02

Quintus.Zhou

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And the reason to build a `sources-jar file is, that you can easily [attach the sources](https://help.eclipse.org/neon/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.jdt.doc.user%2Freference%2Fref-properties-source-attachment.htm) to the jar file, so that it is easier to debug: then you can jump to the real source code, including all comments. If you don't attach the sources, then Eclipse will just decompile the java-class files to make them readable. – TmTron Jan 02 '18 at 13:59

score -4 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 18 '11 at 20:15

-4

OK this one was a douzy - apparently Eclipse allows you to reverse compile your CLASS files back to Java files; this is also known as a "binary build" - you're literally building the bytecode back into source.

answered Aug 18 '11 at 20:15

IAmYourFaja

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Source build vs Binary build?

2 Answers2