What is a build tool?

Question

For past 4 years, I have been programming with Eclipse (for Java), and Visual Studio Express (for C#). The IDEs mentioned always seemed to provide every facility a programme

Answer 1

Build Process is a Process of compiling your source code for any errors using some build tools and creating builds(which are executable versions of the project). We(mainly developers) do some modifications in the source code and check-in that code for the build process to happen. After the build process it gives two results : 1. Either build PASSES and you get an executable version of your project(Build is ready). 2. It fails and you get certain errors and build is not created.

There are different types of build process like : 1. Nightly Build 2. gated Build 3. Continuous integration build etc.

Build tools help and automates the process of creating builds.

*So in Short Build is a Version of Software in pre-release format used by the Developer or Development team to gain confidence for the final result of their Product by continuously monitoring their Product and solving any issues early during the development process.*