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Add a note about META-INF/MANIFEST.MF file in kar files #2255

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jbonofre merged 1 commit into from
Feb 4, 2026
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Add a note about META-INF/MANIFEST.MF file in kar files #2255

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3 changes: 3 additions & 0 deletions manual/src/main/asciidoc/user-guide/kar.adoc
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Expand Up @@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ A KAR file contains a `repository` folder containing:
* a set of features XML files
* the artifacts following the Maven directory structure (`groupId/artifactId/version/artifactId-version.type`).

NB: as kar is a zip file, it doesn't require a `META-INF/MANIFEST.MF` file. However, as the `karaf-maven-plugin` plugin uses Jar archive to create kar, it includes a `META-INF/MANIFEST.MF` (even if useless).

For instance, the `spring-4.0.0.kar` contains:

----
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ The `kar` goal does:
. Reads all features specified in the features XML.
. For each feature described in the features XML, the goal resolves the bundles described in the feature.
. The goal finally packages the features XML, and the resolved bundles in a zip file.
. NB: the `kar` goal uses Maven JarArchiver to create kar files, meaning that a `META-INF/MANIFEST.MF` is generated and included in the kar, even if not actually used.

For instance, you can use the following POM to create `my-kar.kar`:

Expand Down