Maven: The Definitive Guide

Creating a Simple Project

To start a new Maven project, use the Maven Archetype plugin from the command line:

$ mvn archetype:create -DgroupId=org.sonatype.mavenbook.ch03 \
                                         -DartifactId=simple \
                                         -DpackageName=org.sonatype.mavenbook
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] Searching repository for plugin with prefix: 'archetype'.               
[INFO] artifact org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-archetype-plugin: checking for \
       updates from central
[INFO] -----------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Building Maven Default Project
[INFO]    task-segment: [archetype:create] (aggregator-style)
[INFO] --------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] [archetype:create]
[INFO] artifact org.apache.maven.archetypes:maven-archetype-quickstart: \
       checking for updates from central
[INFO] Parameter: groupId, Value: org.sonatype.mavenbook.ch03
[INFO] Parameter: packageName, Value: org.sonatype.mavenbook
[INFO] Parameter: basedir, Value: /Users/tobrien/svnw/sonatype/examples
[INFO] Parameter: package, Value: org.sonatype.mavenbook
[INFO] Parameter: version, Value: 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO] Parameter: artifactId, Value: simple
[INFO] * End of debug info from resources from generated POM *
[INFO] Archetype created in dir: /Users/tobrien/svnw/sonatype/examples/simple

mvn is the Maven 2 command. archetype:create is called a Maven goal. If you are familiar with Apache Ant, a Maven goal is analogous to an Ant target; both describe a unit of work to be completed in a build. ...