src/site/apt/archetypes.apt

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 Archetypeng - Archetypes
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 The Maven Team
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Archetypes

    An archetype is a {{{#Descriptor}descriptor}} and a set of
    {{{#Templates}templates}}. There is two kind of archetypes: complete and
    partial.

    A complete archetype represents a Maven 2 project with complete features.
    Eg. a class library, a desktop application, a web application.

    A partial archetype represents an added feature to an existing Maven 2
    project. Eg. using modello, using jetty.

    The archetype is packaged in a jar file.

    Archetypes can be created using the {{{creation.html}creation}} mecanism or 
    can be {{{archetype-handcraft.html}handcrafted}}.

* {Descriptor}

    The archetype descriptor is an xml file defining:

    * the archetype name,

    * the properties needed by the templates,

    * the templates used to generate the project sorted by categories.

    []

* {Templates}

    The templates are velocity template files. They are used to generate the 
    sources of the project.