h1. Repository

A Cave Repository is a container for:

* Artifacts (files)
* Repository metadata

By default, a repository uses a filesystem backend for the storage, the directory used is KARAF_BASE/cave.

You can change the storage location in the {{etc/org.apache.karaf.cave.server.storage.cfg}} configuration file:

{code}
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#
# Storage location where Apache Karaf Cave create repositories by default
#
cave.storage.location=cave
{code}

For instance, you can define {{/var/cave/store}} for the {{storage.location}} property.

h2. Create

The {{cave:repository-create}} command creates a new repository:

{code}
karaf@root()> cave:repository-create my-repository
{code}

A repository is identified by a name, {{my-repository}} in our example.

Apache Karaf Cave creates the repository storage for you.

If you want to use an existing directory, and avoid Cave to create one in the storage location, you can use the {{-l}}
({{--location}}) option:

{code}
karaf@root()> cave:repository-create -l /home/user/.m2/repository m2
{code}

By default, Apache Karaf Cave scans the repository storage and create the repository metadata. You can use the {{-no}} ({{--no-generate}})
option to avoid this step:

{code}
karaf@root()> cave:repository-create -no -l /home/user/.m2/repository m2
{code}

By default, Apache Karaf Cave registers (installs) a new repository into the repository service. You can use the {{-ns}} ({{--no-start}})
option to avoid this step:

{code}
karaf@root()> cave:repository-create -ns -l /home/user/m2/repository m2
{code}

NB: the {{-no}} and {{-ni}} options are interesting when you use an existing location for the repository. If you create a
new empty repository, these options don't have really any effect.

h2. List

You can list the repositories:

{code}
karaf@root()> cave:repositories
Name          | Location
----------------------------------------------------------------
my-repository | /opt/apache-karaf-4.0.0/data/cave/my-repository
{code}

You can find the repository name and location.

h2. Destroy

The {{cave:repository-destroy}} command deletes the repository:

{code}
karaf@root()> cave:repository-destroy my-repository
{code}

The {{-s}} ({{--storage}}) also deletes the repository backend storage.

{warning}
Be aware that the {{-s}} option completely deletes the repository storage. By extremely careful when using this command
with repository using "custom" location.
{warning}

h2. What's next

Apache Karaf Cave provides a HTTP service to expose the repositories. It allows you to use the repositories remotely.
You can find details in the [HTTP wrapper service section|http-wrapper] of the user guide.