Java Development Tools

I recently downloaded JDeveloper 11.1.1.2.0. Several years ago, I used JDev to do some very simple JSP/servlet development with no formal framework. Times have changed a lot.

For the past few years, I have been developing server-side Java web apps using Eclipse JEE and Ant (ie, everything is set up so that the developer does not depend on the IDE). We currently implement web apps using Apache MyFaces Trinidad JSF components (but not Facelets). Any developer here can check out our code and simply run Ant to build the projects--no need to even have Eclipse installed. Anyone here can build and develop with a text editor and Ant, if they prefer.

I am impressed and yet overwhelmed by the robust functionality of the latest JDev--so impressive, but I feel almost a bit too removed from "seeing" what is going on in the code and deployment. I like the notion of drag-and-drop along with wizards, but I want to also know how the JDev project is set up manually; ie, where everything goes, without having to guess on this. I get the impression that I need to learn, very specifically, the framework of ADF. But unfortunately, the tutorials seem to focus on only using the wizards and drag-drop functionality.

For example, how do I set up JDev to build a project only by running Ant using my properties files and build.xml? This is trivial to do in Eclipse by specifying the Project Builder. Is there some similar setting I can use in JDev?

Is there full compatibility with Trinidad--didn't Oracle make the original Trinidad?

Has anyone posted advice on migrating from Eclipse JEE to JDev?

Sorry if this is an old set of questions; if I had known where to search for this information, I would not be posting this thread.

Many thanks!

Mike Quentel