How is the final build of the software product determined after compilation?

The final build of a software product after compilation in Java is determined by a set of compiled classes and resources packaged into an artifact, such as a JAR, WAR, or EAR file.

Process:

1. Compilation of source code — javac converts .java files into .class files.
2. Artifact assembly — using build tools (Maven, Gradle), classes and resources are packaged into an archive.
3. Content definition — build configuration specifies dependencies, manifests, additional files.

For example, in Maven, the final JAR is formed based on settings in pom.xml, which specify:

• source directories,
• dependencies,
• packaging plugins.

Example build command:

mvn clean package

The result is a file target/myapp.jar, which contains all necessary classes and resources to run the application.