Howdy, The `mvn -h` runs _very early_, when not even DI is set up (or is, but partially). To detect if there is any "default" goal set, the model of the current project must be built (and this may include resolution, like an external parent of the project POM and so on). At this point, when there is no use specified goal, nor project "default" goal set, yes, we could do something smarter, maybe even just fall back to -h?
On Wed, 16 Sept 2026 at 12:48, Mirko Friedenhagen <[email protected]> wrote: > > Maybe maven-core could include a plugin with _one_ mojo called cli-help which > could be defined as default goal, then? > > Mit freundlichen Grüßen > Mirko Friedenhagen > — > > > > Am 08.09.2026 um 16:09 schrieb Gary Gregory <[email protected]>: > > > > If you run mvn without args, then Maven runs the default goal, so it should > > NOT print help. You could argue that the message should be clearer if there > > are no args AND there is no default goal. > > > > 2c, > > Gary > > > > On Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 09:44 Björn Raupach <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> Hello Apache Maven developers, > >> > >> I'm looking for an explanation of a behaviour in Maven that I'm still > >> unclear about. > >> > >> If I type the mvn command without any arguments I get an BUILD FAILURE. > >> > >> What I consider the better option is printing the usage or help instead. > >> The output I am getting when executing mvn -h. > >> > >> In my humble opinion, this is a quick fix and a small, yet notable, > >> improvement to usability for command line users. > >> > >> Something like this in the mvn shell script just before the final exec. > >> > >> if [ "$#" -eq 0 ]; then > >> set -- "-h" > >> fi > >> > >> kind regards > >> Björn > >> > >> > >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > >> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > >> > >> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
