Do I need Maven to use Hibernate?

Question

I'm trying to use Hibernate for the first time, and early on in the getting started guide, it makes reference to Maven. If I'm not mistaken, Maven appears to be a build tool. However, I've been using Eclipse to build my project up to this point.

Is there a way for me to use Hibernate without needing Maven? Can I just do what I need through Eclipse? Does anyone have a link to a resource that can show me how to do this?

Answer 1

No, of course not. I never use Maven - ever, for anything. Keep using Eclipse to build your projects.

I find that it's hard enough to learn one new thing at a time. If you're just learning Hibernate, why complicate your life with Maven?

Update: It's been six years since I wrote this answer. You still don't need Maven to use Hibernate, but I've changed my mind about which one I'd recommend.

I've learned that Maven is the best way to manage dependencies and project lifecycle. Hibernate? Still no reason for it. Keep it simple and stay away from ORM until it's essential.