Maven Project Dependency Replaced with JAR, Breaking Source Navigation
- Dominant language
- Java
- Stars
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- Merged PRs (30d)
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Description
### Apache NetBeans version
Apache NetBeans 25
### What happened
When adding an open Maven library project as a dependency to another Maven project in NetBeans 25, the IDE sometimes silently replaces the project reference with the compiled JAR file from the local repository. This breaks:
"Go to Source" navigation (Ctrl+Click).
Real-time dependency updates (changes in the library project aren’t reflected until rebuilt).
### Language / Project Type / NetBeans Component
Java Maven Swing project
### How to reproduce
Open two Maven projects in NetBeans 25:
Project A (main project)
Project B (dependency library).
In Project A, add Project B as a dependency via:
Right-click Dependencies / Add Project / Open Projects / Select Project B.
Verify it works (Ctrl+Click on a method call in Project A navigates to Project B’s source).
Perform one of these actions:
It is unknown at this point what actions cause the issue to occur, it happens after a few days work and with different projects, sometimes several at a time.
### Did this work correctly in an earlier version?
No / Don't know
### Operating System
Linux Mint Debian Edition 6 (LMDE 6)
### JDK
zulu21.34.19-ca-fx-jdk21.0.3-linux_amd64.deb
### Apache NetBeans packaging
Apache NetBeans provided installer
### Anything else
The issue occurs every few days. The workaround is to remove the jar dependency and manually re-add the open project dependency, but this is temporary.
### Are you willing to submit a pull request?
No
Contributor guide
Research direction
Reproduce the issue with two open Maven projects in NetBeans 25, adding Project B through Dependencies / Add Project / Open Projects. Determine which actions cause the project dependency to become a local JAR, then verify that the fix preserves Ctrl+Click source navigation and real-time updates without needing to remove and re-add the dependency.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- java
- Domain
- developer-experience
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100