install-anserini-fatjar

name	install-anserini-fatjar
description	Install and verify Anserini quickly by downloading the published fatjar from Maven Central instead of cloning or building the source repository. Use when users want fast setup, smoke tests, or CLI examples from a released Anserini jar.
metadata	{"version":"v0.2.1"}

Install Anserini Fatjar

Overview

Use this skill to install and verify Anserini quickly from a published fatjar. Fatjar reproduction workflows are designed to run directly from the Maven Central fatjar, so a source checkout is not required. Download the released anserini-*-fatjar.jar from Maven Central, set ANSERINI_JAR to the downloaded file, and smoke test it.

Do not clone or build the source repository in this workflow.

If the user needs source development, local code changes, or a snapshot jar built from the current checkout, use $install-anserini-dev-env instead.

Workflow

1. Verify runtime tools.
2. Download the released fatjar from Maven Central.
3. Run the CACM prebuilt-index smoke test.
4. Use $anserini-cli for CLI examples after setup.

1. Verify Runtime Tools

Run:

java -version

Require:

• Java available on PATH
• Java major version 21, matching Anserini's current runtime/build requirement

2. Download Fatjar

Choose the requested Anserini release. If the user does not specify a version, verify the latest Maven Central release before choosing ANSERINI_VERSION. Check:

https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/io/anserini/anserini/maven-metadata.xml

A quick command-line check is:

ANSERINI_VERSION="$(curl -sS https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/io/anserini/anserini/maven-metadata.xml \
  | sed -n 's:.*<release>\(.*\)</release>.*:\1:p')"
test -n "$ANSERINI_VERSION"

Then download that release:

curl -fL -o "anserini-${ANSERINI_VERSION}-fatjar.jar" \
  "https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/io/anserini/anserini/${ANSERINI_VERSION}/anserini-${ANSERINI_VERSION}-fatjar.jar"
ANSERINI_JAR="anserini-${ANSERINI_VERSION}-fatjar.jar"
test -f "$ANSERINI_JAR"

If the user requested a specific release, set ANSERINI_VERSION to that version instead of the discovered latest release before downloading.

If curl is unavailable, use wget:

wget "https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/io/anserini/anserini/${ANSERINI_VERSION}/anserini-${ANSERINI_VERSION}-fatjar.jar"
ANSERINI_JAR="anserini-${ANSERINI_VERSION}-fatjar.jar"
test -f "$ANSERINI_JAR"

All subsequent commands assume ANSERINI_JAR points to the downloaded fatjar. Keep commands pinned to this jar unless the user asks to change versions.

3. Smoke Test

Run:

java -cp "$ANSERINI_JAR" io.anserini.search.SearchCollection \
  -threads 1 \
  -index cacm \
  -topics cacm \
  -output run.cacm.bm25.txt \
  -hits 1000 \
  -bm25

Treat a successful run and generated run.cacm.bm25.txt file as proof the runtime is ready. This command follows the CACM prebuilt-index reproduction config and may download the small CACM prebuilt index and topics on first use.

Then evaluate the run with Anserini's Java trec_eval wrapper:

java -cp "$ANSERINI_JAR" io.anserini.eval.TrecEval \
  -c \
  -m map \
  -m P.30 \
  cacm \
  run.cacm.bm25.txt

Expected scores are:

map     all     0.3123
P_30    all     0.1942

To verify them mechanically:

java -cp "$ANSERINI_JAR" io.anserini.eval.TrecEval \
  -c \
  -m map \
  -m P.30 \
  cacm \
  run.cacm.bm25.txt | tee eval.cacm.bm25.txt

grep -q $'map\tall\t0.3123' eval.cacm.bm25.txt
grep -q $'P_30\tall\t0.1942' eval.cacm.bm25.txt

4. Command Execution

Run Anserini commands against the downloaded jar:

java -cp "$ANSERINI_JAR" <main-class> <args>

Keep all commands pinned to the same jar version unless the user asks to change versions.

Related Skills

Canonical Anserini skills live at:

https://github.com/castorini/anserini/tree/master/.agents/skills

After fatjar setup:

• Use $anserini-cli for command-line usage, registry lookup, search, and REST examples.
• Use $anserini-reproduction for reproduction workflows and result verification.
• Do not use $install-anserini-dev-env unless the user needs a source checkout, local code changes, or a jar built from source.

Troubleshooting

• No fatjar found: download the release fatjar from Maven Central and set ANSERINI_JAR to that path.
• Download returns 404: confirm the requested Anserini version exists on Maven Central.
• ClassNotFoundException: confirm ANSERINI_JAR points to the downloaded anserini-*-fatjar.jar, not the thin jar.
• Java errors: use a supported Java version and re-run.

Completion Criteria

Treat setup as complete when all are true:

• ANSERINI_JAR points to an existing downloaded anserini-*-fatjar.jar.
• The CACM SearchCollection smoke test executes successfully and writes run.cacm.bm25.txt.
• Java TrecEval verifies MAP 0.3123 and P30 0.1942 for the CACM run.
• The user can run target commands via java -cp ....