version: "1.0.0" name: maven-indexer description: Query the local Maven/Gradle artifact index from the terminal. Use when you see an import but cannot find the class definition in the workspace (it likely comes from a compiled internal library), when you need to read the actual implementation of an internal or non-well-known library, or when you need to find which artifact contains a class, discover implementations of an interface, or inspect proto/resource files inside JARs. Do not use for well-known standard libraries (java.util, Spring core, etc.) that the AI already knows.

Maven Indexer

Use maven-indexer-cli to search and inspect Java classes, artifacts, and resources from your local Maven/Gradle cache.

When to activate

Use this skill when:

• You see an import (e.g. com.company.util.Helper) but cannot find the definition in the workspace — it likely comes from a compiled internal library
• You need to read the actual implementation of an internal or non-well-known library ("Don't guess what the internal library does — read the code")
• You need to find which artifact contains a given class
• You need method signatures, Javadocs, or full source code of a dependency class
• You need to find implementations of an interface or subclasses of a base class (e.g. SPI implementations)
• You need to locate proto files or other resources embedded in JARs

Skip when:

• The class is from the standard Java library (java.util, java.io, etc.) or a well-known public library the AI already knows well
• The source is already present in the current workspace

Check index first

If the index might be empty or stale, build it first:

# Quick scan — one best version per artifact (fast, recommended)
maven-indexer-cli refresh-index
 
# Full scan — all versions of all artifacts
maven-indexer-cli refresh-index --full

Commands

search-classes — Find which artifact contains a class

Essential when you see an import but cannot find the definition. Do not assume the source is local just because the code compiles.

maven-indexer-cli search-classes <className>
# Examples:
maven-indexer-cli search-classes StringUtils
maven-indexer-cli search-classes com.company.util.Helper
maven-indexer-cli search-classes JsonToXml          # keyword search also works

get-class — Read the actual implementation

Use instead of guessing. Prefers source JARs, falls back to decompilation.

# Method signatures (default)
maven-indexer-cli get-class <className>
 
# Javadocs + method signatures
maven-indexer-cli get-class <className> --type docs
 
# Full source code
maven-indexer-cli get-class <className> --type source
 
# From a specific artifact version
maven-indexer-cli get-class <className> --coordinate groupId:artifactId:version

search-artifacts — Find artifacts by coordinate or keyword

maven-indexer-cli search-artifacts <query>
# Examples:
maven-indexer-cli search-artifacts guava
maven-indexer-cli search-artifacts com.google.guava

search-implementations — Find SPI implementations and subclasses

Particularly useful for finding implementations of SPIs or base classes within internal company libraries.

maven-indexer-cli search-implementations <className>
# Examples:
maven-indexer-cli search-implementations java.util.List
maven-indexer-cli search-implementations com.example.spi.Handler

search-resources — Find proto files and other JAR resources

maven-indexer-cli search-resources <pattern>
# Examples:
maven-indexer-cli search-resources .proto
maven-indexer-cli search-resources log4j.xml

Output

All commands support --json for structured output:

maven-indexer-cli search-classes ImmutableList --json
maven-indexer-cli get-class com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList --json

If maven-indexer-cli is not found, install it: npm install -g maven-indexer-cli