Class Task
In: lib/rake.rb
Parent: Object

A Task is the basic unit of work in a Rakefile. Tasks have associated actions (possibly more than one) and a list of prerequisites. When invoked, a task will first ensure that all of its prerequisites have an opportunity to run and then it will execute its own actions.

Tasks are not usually created directly using the new method, but rather use the file and task convenience methods.

Methods

Constants

TASKS = Hash.new
RULES = Array.new

Attributes

comment  [RW]  Comment for this task.
prerequisites  [R]  List of prerequisites for a task.
source  [RW]  Source dependency for rule synthesized tasks. Nil if task was not sythesized from a rule.

Public Class methods

Return a task with the given name. If the task is not currently known, try to synthesize one from the defined rules. If no rules are found, but an existing file matches the task name, assume it is a file task with no dependencies or actions.

Clear the task list. This cause rake to immediately forget all the tasks that have been assigned. (Normally used in the unit tests.)

Define a rule for synthesizing tasks.

Define a task given args and an option block. If a rule with the given name already exists, the prerequisites and actions are added to the existing task. Returns the defined task.

If a rule can be found that matches the task name, enhance the task with the prerequisites and actions from the rule. Set the source attribute of the task appropriately for the rule. Return the enhanced task or nil of no rule was found.

Lookup a task. Return an existing task if found, otherwise create a task of the current type.

Create a task named task_name with no actions or prerequisites.. use enhance to add actions and prerequisites.

TRUE if the task name is already defined.

List of all defined tasks.

Public Instance methods

Add a comment to the task. If a comment alread exists, separate the new comment with " / ".

Enhance a task with prerequisites or actions. Returns self.

Execute the actions associated with this task.

Invoke the task if it is needed. Prerequites are invoked first.

Name of the task.

Is this task needed?

Timestamp for this task. Basic tasks return the current time for their time stamp. Other tasks can be more sophisticated.

[Validate]