How to import the Spring Framework sourcecode into an eclipse project?

Question

I wanted to pull in all the sourcecode from Spring into eclipse, but wasn't sure how to pull all those multiple projects into one eclipse project. Anyone know how to set this up?

Answer 1

The easiest way is to use Maven. So if your project is a maven project, then eclipse with M2Eclipse plugin (or STS where the plugin is already included) will provide this service for you automatically.

If you don't use Maven, then eclipse allowes you to attach the source code to every used jar by hand. (Select the jar in the package explorer, right click, Java Source Attachment). I guess you can download the sources somewhere from Spring. Or you can download it from a maven repository with your browser for example form here: http://search.maven.org/#browse|528292745

When I remember right, then you can also use window/preference/java/build path/user libaries to define the source attachments for jars. The purpose of this way is, that you will not need to do it for each project again and again.

Answer 2

See http://blog.springsource.com/2009/03/03/building-spring-3/