Maven Central Repository Artifact Source Code / Project URL / License Identification

Question

I'm new to working with Java and have questions regarding the Maven Central Repository. I am much more familiar with Python and PyPI, so I will provide the equivalent in PyPI that I would like to find in Maven.

1. How can I find the source code for the artifacts in Maven Central? Typically, I see the JAR file and prefer not to decompile these files. Typically, PyPI packages have the source file type in the "Download files" tab.

2. How can I find the associated project URL to a maven artifact? In PyPI, the package page has a set of project links and generally provides a repository link (eg, Github, Bitbucket)

3. How can I identify open-source projects in the Maven central repository? The license for PyPI projects is tagged directly in the meta-reference on the sidebar of a project page.

I appreciate any insight into these questions. Thanks!

Answer 1

1. When a distributor decides to provide them, you can find -sources.jar and a -javadoc.jar files in the artifacts folder. (common IDE's are aware of that&provide buttons/menus, "Maven>Download XXX";)

   • like eg here .
   • Artifact javadoc (for the sophisticated ones, javadoc and sources refers to the (common) "classifier" of the artifact).
   • how (easy) to produce them .

2. In the pom:

   • project.url tag provides:

     The project's home page.

   • project.scm element provides (should provide,) "source control" related (multiple) urls (read-only, contributer. public-browsing).

   • besides that many other things(and sub-things) can have url in a maven project/pom (distributionManagement(ie repository), organisation, developer,...).

3. project.licenses element!

You can be sure to find all of three (- four) in all (at least latest) artifacts in maven central , due to:

Their Publishing Requirements ;;