What is the best way to avoid maven-jar?
ant, jar, java, maven-2, maven-plugin
Solution
In Maven 3.0.x (I tried 3.0.2) you can disable `maven-jar-plugin` by binding the `default-jar` execution to a nonexistent phase, as @bmargulies suggested. Unfortunately that doesn't work in 2.2.1, but you can prevent it from interfering with your own jar by setting an alternative `<finalName>` and `<classifier>` for the `default-jar` execution; it will still create a jar, but it will be set as a secondary artifact for the project and won't overwrite the one you've created. Here's an example that should work in both Maven 2 and Maven 3:
<project>
<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
<groupId>test</groupId>
<artifactId>test</artifactId>
<version>0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
<executions>
<execution>
<id>default-jar</id>
<phase>none</phase>
<configuration>
<finalName>unwanted</finalName>
<classifier>unwanted</classifier>
</configuration>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
</project>
Once you've disabled `maven-jar-plugin`, `maven-install-plugin` may give you trouble too. In Maven 3 it can be disabled the same as `maven-jar-plugin`: bind `default-install` to a nonexistent phase. However, in Maven 2 `maven-install-plugin` requires that the `target/classes` directory exist, and it will install the dummy jar when there isn't a primary artifact present.
Problem
I am using a different plugin (ant4eclipse) to jar my files. What is the best way to avoid the maven-jar plugin from executing? - I tried to remove the `<plugin>maven-jar-plugin</plugin>` - I tried to `<exclude> ** / * < / exclude>` - I tried to `<skip>true</skip>` None worked