[MNG-6681] improve documentation: dependency type = file classifier(optional)+extension + additional hints on dependency features

• Type: Task
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed
• Affects Version/s: 3.6.1
• Fix Version/s: 3.6.2
• Assignee: Herve Boutemy
• Reporter: Herve Boutemy
• Created: 16/Jun/19 08:03
• Updated: 28/Mar/20 23:16
• Resolved: 16/Jun/19 15:10

Description

Documentation for dependency type is currently misleading: https://maven.apache.org/ref/3.6.1/maven-model/maven.html#class_dependency
The type of dependency. While it usually represents the extension on the filename of the dependency, that is not always the case. A type can be mapped to a different extension and a classifier. The type often corresponds to the packaging used, though this is also not always the case. Some examples are jar, war, ejb-client and test-jar
Reading that, people understand that type is extension

This has to be rephrased a little bit to have people keep in mind: A type can be mapped to an extension and a classifier (and the extension value may match the type, but not always)

The "While it usually represents the extension on the filename of the dependency, that is not always the case." as first explanation is totally misleading

Issue Links

• is related to: MNG-6682 create "source-release" dependency type
• links to: GitHub Pull Request #254