Gradle task to compile java files and resources to zip file - gradle

Question

I'm new to Gradle and I have no past experience for Gradle builds. What I'm trying to achieve are compile Java classes, copy some files to build dir with some resource files and make a zip file of the whole directory.
Zip file contents
bin
----data
----java
----properties
----resources
----run.sh
----classes <---- Java compiles classes here!
lib
----sqlite-jdbc-3.23.1.jar
properties
----MANIFEST.MF
I tried to Gradle build for Java but it makes too much tasks for this and I think it's overkill for my purposes. I want to write simple compile and copy task for this. Or if I need to use all java build tasks, how can I edit those task operations?

Answer 1

I think you should use both Java and Distribution plugins, that will help you to create a simple build script. Java plugin will bring you some tasks that you might not need in you case, but it still worth using it instead of creating your own task for source compilation.
An example of script you could use as a starter:
plugins {
id 'java'
id 'distribution'
}
// Java plugin configuration
// ---------------------------------------------------
sourceCompatibility = 1.8
targetCompatibility = 1.8
repositories {
jcenter()
}
dependencies {
compile group: 'org.xerial', name: 'sqlite-jdbc', version: '3.23.1'
}
// Distribution plugin configuration
// ------------------------------------------------------
distributions {
main {
baseName = 'myDist'
contents {
// 1. by default, content under /src/main/dist will be automatically included in the target dist zip
// 2. include compiled classes output dir into /bin/classes
from(project.sourceSets.main.output.classesDir) {
into('bin/classes/')
}
// 3. include all dependent jars into /libs
from(configurations.compile) {
into('libs/')
}
// 4. other resources to include in the target zip
// ...
}
}
}
// Make distZip task depend on compileJava task
distZip {
dependsOn compileJava
// EDIT : change target file path
eachFile { file ->
String path = file.relativePath
String newPath = path.substring(path.indexOf("/")+1,path.length())
println "Changed path to file from $path to $newPath"
file.setPath(newPath)
}
}
This script assumes that you follow standard directory layout in your project, for your source code and resources ( src/main/java/ , src/main/dist/ , ..), else you will have to adapt the script.