How to create a Java / Maven project that works in Visual Studio Code?

I surprise no one had mentioned this possible easy approach in visual studio code.

Install VS Code and Apache maven ( just as mentioned by @Steve Chambers)

After installing this extension vscode:extension/vscjava.vscode-java-pack

In the java overview page , there is a an option which reads 'Create Maven Project' which further takes to a simple wizard to generate maven project.

Its pretty quick which is intutitive enough, even newbies can very well start with a Maven project.

Here is a complete list of steps - you may not need steps 1-3 but am including them for completeness:-

1. Download VS Code and Apache Maven and install both.
2. Install the Visual Studio extension pack for Java - e.g. by pasting this URL into a web browser: vscode:extension/vscjava.vscode-java-pack and then clicking on the green Install button after it opens in VS Code.
3. NOTE: See the comment from ADTC for an "Easier GUI version of step 3...(Skip step 4)." If necessary, the Maven quick start archetype could be used to generate a new Maven project in an appropriate local folder: mvn archetype:generate -DgroupId=com.companyname.appname-DartifactId=appname-DarchetypeArtifactId=maven-archetype-quickstart -DinteractiveMode=false. This will create an appname folder with Maven's Standard Directory Layout (i.e. src/main/java/com/companyname/appname and src/main/test/com/companyname/appname to begin with and a sample "Hello World!" Java file named appname.java and associated unit test named appnameTest.java).*
4. Open the Maven project folder in VS Code via File menu -> Open Folder... and select the appname folder.
5. Open the Command Palette (via the View menu or by right-clicking) and type in and select Tasks: Configure task then select Create tasks.json from template.

6. Choose maven ("Executes common Maven commands"). This creates a tasks.json file with "verify" and "test" tasks. More can be added corresponding to other Maven Build Lifecycle phases. To specifically address your requirement for classes to be built without a JAR file, a "compile" task would need to be added as follows:

   {
       "label": "compile",
       "type": "shell",
       "command": "mvn -B compile",
       "group": "build"
   },
   

7. Save the above changes and then open the Command Palette and select "Tasks: Run Build Task" then pick "compile" and then "Continue without scanning the task output". This invokes Maven, which creates a target folder at the same level as the src folder with the compiled class files in the target\classes folder.

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Addendum: How to run/debug a class

Following a question in the comments, here are some steps for running/debugging:-

1. Show the Debug view if it is not already shown (via View menu - Debug or CtrlShiftD).
2. Click on the green arrow in the Debug view and select "Java".
3. Assuming it hasn't already been created, a message "launch.json is needed to start the debugger. Do you want to create it now?" will appear - select "Yes" and then select "Java" again.
4. Enter the fully qualified name of the main class (e.g. com.companyname.appname.App) in the value for "mainClass" and save the file.
5. Click on the green arrow in the Debug view again.

An alternative way is to install the Maven for Java plugin and create a maven project within Visual Studio. The steps are described in the official documentation:

1. From the Command Palette (Crtl+Shift+P), select Maven: Generate from Maven Archetype and follow the instructions, or
2. Right-click on a folder and select Generate from Maven Archetype.

This is not a particularly good answer as it explains how to run your java code n VS Code and not necessarily a Maven project, but it worked for me because I could not get around to doing the manual configuration myself. I decided to use this method instead since it is easier and faster.

Install VSCode (and for windows, set your environment variables), then install vscode:extension/vscjava.vscode-java-pack as detailed above, and then install the code runner extension pack, which basically sets up the whole process (in the background) as explained in the accepted answer above and then provides a play button to run your java code when you're ready.

This was all explained in this video.

Again, this is not the best solution, but if you want to cut to the chase, you may find this answer useful.