What is what does maven means?

Maven is a build automation tool used primarily for Java projects. It helps in managing dependencies and building projects by providing a uniform way to manage and distribute project binaries.

Maven is a powerful tool that provides various features like a standard directory layout, a declarative build system based on XML, support for multi-module projects, dependency management, and plugins for various tasks like testing, deployment, and site generation.

Maven uses a project object model (POM) file to define the project's configuration, build steps, dependencies, and plugins. It also provides a command-line interface (CLI) to run various builds and lifecycle phases.

Maven was first released in 2004 and has since become an essential tool for many Java developers. It is open-source software and is maintained by the Apache Software Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports various open-source projects.