Can't use external dependency (installed by Maven) in IntelliJ Ultimate

Question

I created a pom.xml that includes the XML to import JUnit 4. I opened up project in IntelliJ. It seems to have downloaded the external dependency, but when I try to use the dependency in an import statement, IntelliJ can't recognize it.

Here are the steps I took from the beginning:

I created a pom.xml.
mkdir MAVEN
mv pom.xml MAVEN
Open IntelliJ
File > open > pom.xml
cd ~/MAVEN
mkdir -p src/main/java
Go back to IntelliJ
Right click on src -> mark directory as root

I believe that Maven imported everything correctly because I can see JUnit as a dependency in the project directory: https://imgur.com/TdJq7PK

Here is my pom.xml:

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>

    <groupId>com.company.org</groupId>
    <artifactId>mvn-prac</atifactId>
    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>

    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>junit</groupId>
            <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
            <version>4.12</version>
            <scope>test</scope>
        </dependency>

    </dependencies>
</project>

When I attempt to use a common class from JUnit, such as import org.junit.Test;, IntelliJ can't recognize the symbol.

I have attempted both mvn clean and mvn install in the root of the project, and neither seemed to help.

Thanks for any help.

Delete .idea directory and use Import Project instead. see https://stackoverflow.com/a/42427510/104891 if importing doesn't set roots correctly or doesn't configure the dependencies. It should be performed automatically for Maven projects. Your dependency has `test` scope, make sure the tests are in `src/test/java` so that they can see this dependency. — CrazyCoder, Feb 07 '19 at 10:56
@CrazyCoder the entire problem was because of the test scope. I just deleted that line and it picks everything up. I was using the maven docs on apache's website and didn't even bother to care about what actually did. Thank you. — Logan Phillips, Feb 07 '19 at 11:47

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 07 '19 at 11:49

If you are using the test scope, JUnit dependency will be available only for the tests located in src/test/java, but not to the classes in src/main/java.

Either remove the <scope>test</scope> line in pom.xml or move your tests to the proper Test Sources root.

Can't use external dependency (installed by Maven) in IntelliJ Ultimate

1 Answers1