Maven integration: default output directories

There's a nagging screen when importing a maven
project asking for a compiler output path. This is
counterintuitive, as:

1. m2 inherently has compiler output paths configured
already in poms
2. This setting is set globally for all modules,
which forward all Make output to this folder
(individual m2 goals on projects use the m2 target
output directories)

Now, I understand there are 2 styles for co-hosting
IDEA-compiled and m2 compiled classes:

1. One I prefer - IDEA compiles to the same folders
as m2, configured individually per-project (target by
default, relative to module root)

I agree and also for the following reason: I guess most of us have been using the maven-idea-plugin to create projects files from IDEA projects. So it is good to follow that standard.

Also, isn't what IDEA does now simply going to break maven plugins that depend on the module/target/classes directory being there? I think it is extemely important to follow maven conventions (that is what maven is all about) so that we are also still able to use maven from the command line in combination with using it from IDEA.

S.

This is very easy to fix, but there is important detail:

IDEA make does not reuse class files created by external tools (ant, maven,
javac from command line). This means that if you point IDEA's output to the
same directory as Maven's, and build your project with Maven, the next IDEA
make will recompile everything.

I am not sure how it would work the other way around, but I will try today.

Anyway, what you are asking for is what old plugins did, so I will provide
such option.

Vladislav Kaznacheev
Project Manager, IntelliJ IDEA
http://www.jetbrains.com
"Develop with Pleasure!"

>> There's a nagging screen when importing a maven project asking for a
>> compiler output path. This is counterintuitive, as:
>>
>> 1. m2 inherently has compiler output paths configured
>> already in poms
>> 2. This setting is set globally for all modules,
>> which forward all Make output to this folder
>> (individual m2 goals on projects use the m2 target
>> output directories)
>> Now, I understand there are 2 styles for co-hosting IDEA-compiled and
>> m2 compiled classes:
>>
>> 1. One I prefer - IDEA compiles to the same folders as m2, configured
>> individually per-project (target by default, relative to module root)
>>

I agree and also for the following reason: I guess most of us have
been using the maven-idea-plugin to create projects files from IDEA
projects. So it is good to follow that standard.

Also, isn't what IDEA does now simply going to break maven plugins
that depend on the module/target/classes directory being there? I
think it is extemely important to follow maven conventions (that is
what maven is all about) so that we are also still able to use maven
from the command line in combination with using it from IDEA.

S.

IDEA make does not reuse class files created by
external tools (ant, maven,
javac from command line). This means that if you
point IDEA's output to the
same directory as Maven's, and build your project
with Maven, the next IDEA
make will recompile everything.

Vlad, I'm not sure about that. What IDEA did in those cases was incremental compilation. E.g.:

1. Compile a module with mvn externally
2. Run IDEA, classes were picked up properly

or

1. Compile a module with mvn externally
2. Modify a source file in IDEA
3. Hit Make - only the modified source recompiled.

My impression was that 'Synchronizing output folders' step during make handled those.

And, if it weren't the case, the above is the way it must be anyway.

Regards,
Andrew

Regarding the maven integration - will IDEA bundle Maven 2.0.6 similar
to how it currently bundles Ant?

And if so - will the bundled Ant also include the Maven Ant Tasks jar in
its lib?

This would make for a great out of the box maven experience...

Vladislav Kaznacheev wrote on 29/05/07 01:32:

This is very easy to fix, but there is important detail:

Hello Mark,

We will bundle not Maven 2.0.6, but Maven Embedder which is basically the
engine behind the Maven. Anyway, there will be no need to install Maven manually.

Best regards,

Vladislav Kaznacheev
Project Manager, IntelliJ IDEA
http://www.jetbrains.com
"Develop with Pleasure!"

Regarding the maven integration - will IDEA bundle Maven 2.0.6 similar
to how it currently bundles Ant?

And if so - will the bundled Ant also include the Maven Ant Tasks jar
in its lib?

This would make for a great out of the box maven experience...

Vladislav Kaznacheev wrote on 29/05/07 01:32:

>> This is very easy to fix, but there is important detail:
>>

Hello Mark,

We will bundle not Maven 2.0.6, but Maven Embedder
which is basically the
engine behind the Maven. Anyway, there will be no
need to install Maven manually.

I had to choose the 'Use embedded maven' option first before the plugin would work. Maybe that is a good default then? :)

S.

I had to choose the 'Use embedded maven' option first
before the plugin would work. Maybe that is a good
default then? :)

I had M2_HOME and MAVEN_OPTS configured in the environment. In IDEA chose 'Use external Maven' but left the path empty.

Everything was picked up properly, even the MAVEN_OPTS command switches. So, my suggestion here would be to update the UI to hint the external can use one's env defaults, and make M2_HOME field entry optional (and state its optional).

Already done


Vladislav Kaznacheev
Project Manager, IntelliJ IDEA
http://www.jetbrains.com
"Develop with Pleasure!"

>> Hello Mark,
>>
>> We will bundle not Maven 2.0.6, but Maven Embedder
>> which is basically the
>> engine behind the Maven. Anyway, there will be no
>> need to install Maven manually.

I had to choose the 'Use embedded maven' option first before the
plugin would work. Maybe that is a good default then? :)

S.