We have some integration tests and prefer to use an embedded Tomcat instance vs deploying to an external, running server (avoid external dep problem). The tests are in a separate module than the war module. The need is to retrieve the built war from the local repo and explode it into the working directory for the embedded instance.
We're also trying to avoid using a Maven plugin to retrieve and explode the war to prevent problems with running the tests in IDEs (Eclipse + m2e and IDEA). (However, possibly a Maven plugin wouldn't cause problems for them?) I'm wondering if anyone has solved this in a simple manner. I've been googling, reading, and trying a few things and have not found an answer (perhaps I'm close but missing a final how-to). I've investigated things like Shrinkwrap, java.util.jar.JarFile, and bloggers' own craptaculous approaches on file manipulations, and now wondering if Aether is what to try next. What I've seen keeps looking like brute-force coding... I'm close to moving the ITs into the war module, as the packaged war is right there in target... However, would be good to know a good way or two of solving retrieval of artifacts from the local repo.
