How to run Rake tasks from within Rake tasks?

I have a Rakefile that compiles the project in two ways, according to the global variable $build_type, which can be :debug or :release (the results go in separate directories):

task :build => [:some_other_tasks] do
end

I wish to create a task that compiles the project with both configurations in turn, something like this:

task :build_all do
  [ :debug, :release ].each do |t|
    $build_type = t
    # call task :build with all the tasks it depends on (?)
  end
end

Is there a way to call a task as if it were a method? Or how can I achieve anything similar?

From stackoverflow

• task :build_all do
    [ :debug, :release ].each do |t|
      $build_type = t
      Rake::Task["build"].execute
    end
  end
  

• for example:

  Rake::Task["db:migrate"].invoke

• task :build_all do
    [ :debug, :release ].each do |t|
      $build_type = t
      Rake::Task["build"].reenable
      Rake::Task["build"].invoke
    end
  end
  

  That should sort you out, just needed the same thing myself.

  Mr Rogers : Thanks. Just what I was looking for.

  kch : This is functional, but way too verbose. Sure there's nothing better?

  csexton : Exactly what was needed -- thanks.

• If you need the task to behave as a method, how about using an actual method?

  task :build => [:some_other_tasks] do
    build
  end
  
  task :build_all do
    [:debug, :release].each { |t| build t }
  end
  
  def build(type = :debug)
    # ...
  end
  

  If you'd rather stick to rake's idioms, here are your possibilities, compiled from past answers:

  • This always executes the task, but it doesn't execute its dependencies:

    Rake::Task["build"].execute
    

  • This one executes the dependencies, but it only executes the task if it has not already been invoked:

    Rake::Task["build"].invoke
    

  • This first resets the task's already_invoked state, allowing the task to then be executed again, dependencies and all:

    Rake::Task["build"].reenable
    Rake::Task["build"].invoke
    

    (Notice that dependencies already invoked are not re-executed)