How do I obtain classpath of another java project?

Question

I am writing a maven plugin now and need to obtain the classpath of another java project. I would like to know if it is possible to get the classpath of another java project from my current java project? Thanks in advance

Answer 1

if "another java project" means "the project that declears your plugin", here is my answer :

you need to create new classloader from plugin :

List classpathElements = project.getCompileClasspathElements();
classpathElements.add( project.getBuild().getOutputDirectory() );
classpathElements.add( project.getBuild().getTestOutputDirectory() );
URL urls[] = new URL[classpathElements.size()];
for ( int i = 0; i < classpathElements.size(); ++i ) {
  urls[i] = new File( (String) classpathElements.get( i ) ).toURL();
}
return new URLClassLoader( urls, this.getClass().getClassLoader() );

with new classloader, you can do something (loading class, reflection, generating code) with project's classes

hibernate3-maven-plugin use the same trick to generate mapping from project's annotated classes