apache / apache/maven-javadoc-plugin
Stale detection does not work: Javadoc generation is skipped when it should not
- Dominant language
- Java
- Stars
- 107
- Forks
- 116
- Avg merge
- 1d 10h
- Merged PRs (30d)
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Description
### Affected version
3.12.0
### Bug description
After changing the Javadoc in the Java source files and running `mvn compile javadoc:javadoc` again, Javadoc generation is skipped.
In `maven-javadoc-plugin-stale-data.txt` I see all the command-line arguments and then a bunch of lines like:
```plaintext
C:\path\to\target\reports\apidocs\allclasses-index.html = 1778834612169
```
I assume the right-hand side is a timestamp, but I'm surprised not to see a list of Java source files with timestamps? How can the plugin determine if something has changed if it only has the info in the `maven-javadoc-plugin-stale-data.txt` file?
Environment: Windows 11, JDK 26.0.1, Maven 3.9.15
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Research direction
Reproduce the report on Windows 11 with JDK 26.0.1 by running `mvn compile javadoc:javadoc` after changing a Java source file. Start by inspecting `maven-javadoc-plugin-stale-data.txt` and its recorded command-line arguments and output timestamps; done means Javadoc is regenerated when Java sources change rather than being skipped.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- java
- Domain
- build-system
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100