mvn-idea
generates IntelliJ IDEA project files
TLDR
SYNOPSIS
mvn idea:goal [options]
DESCRIPTION
mvn idea invokes the legacy Maven IDEA Plugin, which generates IntelliJ IDEA project files (.ipr, .iml, and .iws) from a Maven POM. The plugin reads dependencies, source folders, and resources and writes them into IDEA's XML project metadata so the project opens without further configuration.Modern IntelliJ IDEA imports pom.xml files directly through its built-in Maven integration, making this plugin largely obsolete. It remains useful only in legacy build setups or CI scripts that need to materialize IDEA project files without launching the IDE.
PARAMETERS
GOAL
IDEA plugin goal.idea
Generate all files.module
Generate module file.workspace
Generate workspace.clean
Remove IDEA files.-DdownloadSources
Include source JARs.--help
Display help information.
CAVEATS
The plugin is no longer actively developed and was retired from the official Maven project. The generated .iml files may use older IDEA module formats incompatible with newer IDEA releases. Prefer File > Open on the pom.xml in modern IDEA.
HISTORY
The Maven IDEA Plugin (groupId org.apache.maven.plugins, artifactId maven-idea-plugin) was created before IntelliJ IDEA gained native Maven import support. It was officially retired by Apache Maven once IDEA's first-class Maven integration matured.
SEE ALSO
mvn(1), mvn-compile(1), idea(1)
