After using Ant to build Tomcat for a few months it became clear that Java property files are not sufficient to express complicated build instructions. Files needed to be checked out, copied, compiled, sent to another machine, and unit tested. In case of failure e-mails needed to be sent out to appropriate people. In case of success “Bad to the Bone” needed to be played at the highest possible volume. At the end of the track volume had to be restored to its original level. Yes, Java property files didn’t cut it anymore.