PlantUML can be built using either [Gradle](#building-plantuml-with-gradle) or [Ant](#building-plantuml-with-ant-alternative-method). It's recommended to use Gradle as the primary build tool for this project. You will find instructions for both methods, starting with Gradle.
We understand the ubiquity and prevalence of Java 8 in numerous environments and infrastructures. Thus, **PlantUML remains steadfastly compatible with Java 8**. Despite the version’s age and the availability of newer releases, we recognize that a substantial number of users and enterprises still depend on Java 8. Therefore, you can confidently run PlantUML in environments where Java 8 is installed, ensuring accessibility and functionality for a wide array of users.
PlantUML consistently retains compatibility with Java 8 in its main library, ensuring a broad usability spectrum. However, the perspective slightly shifts when it comes to our development and testing environments, especially concerning dependency management and Java version utilization.
In the unitary testing environment:
- **Additional Dependencies**: To streamline and simplify unitary tests, we are open to incorporating dependencies on other libraries, ensuring that our testing is thorough, simplified, and efficient.
- **For Users**: PlantUML is crafted to compile and operate flawlessly with Java 8, offering a stable experience without the imperative of upgrading your Java environment.
- **For Contributors/Developers**: When engaging in unitary testing, be mindful that it involves additional dependencies for efficient testing processes. However, rest assured that the main library of PlantUML consciously avoids external dependencies to maintain its lightweight and easy-to-integrate nature, while still ensuring compatibility with Java 8.
Whether you're using an old or a new version of Java, your feedback, contributions, and insights are valuable in enhancing PlantUML. We strive to maintain a balance between adopting new technology and ensuring accessibility for all users, and your experiences aid us in striking this balance effectively.
After successfully building the project, you are ready to start contributing to PlantUML! If you have any changes to contribute, please submit a pull request through the [PlantUML GitHub repository](https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml).
If you encounter any issues while building the project, feel free to ask for help on the [PlantUML Community Forum](https://forum.plantuml.net/) or open an issue on the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/issues).
Navigate to the directory containing the `build.xml`:
```sh
cd plantuml
```
### Building the Project
To build the project using Ant, run the following command:
```sh
ant
```
If you have Ant set up correctly and the prerequisites are met, the build process should start, and the project will be built based on the instructions in the `build.xml`.
Within certain PlantUML releases, we've incorporated an embedded, compiled version of GraphViz specifically tailored for Windows. This initiative was taken to streamline the user experience for our Windows users, eliminating the need for them to undertake separate installations or configurations.
This version of GraphViz is a product of the [graphviz-distributions project](https://github.com/plantuml/graphviz-distributions). For efficient distribution, it is compressed using Brotli and subsequently stored within the [graphviz.dat file](https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/tree/master/src/net/sourceforge/plantuml/windowsdot).
If you're not on a Windows platform (e.g., Linux users), you can safely remove this file. However, for Windows users, removing it implies you'd need to install GraphViz independently.
To streamline our distribution process and given the existing six PlantUML versions resulting from varied licensing, we chose not to double this count to 12 with a dichotomy of versions containing the embedded GraphViz and those without. Instead, all our distributions, barring the LGPL one, come with the embedded GraphViz. For those who prefer a version without the embedded GraphViz, the LGPL distribution would be the go-to choice.
