Maven Commands Cheat Sheet

Introduction

Maven is a powerful build automation tool used primarily for Java projects. It simplifies the build process, dependency management, and project configuration through the use of a standardized project object model (POM). Understanding the essential Maven commands can help you manage your project builds efficiently. This cheat sheet provides a quick reference to the most commonly used Maven commands and plugins.

What is Maven?

Maven is a build automation tool from the Apache Software Foundation designed to simplify the process of managing project builds, dependencies, and documentation. Maven uses a Project Object Model (POM) file to define project structure, dependencies, and build configurations, making it easier to manage large and complex projects.

Maven Commands Cheat Sheet

Here is a handy cheat sheet of the most commonly used Maven commands and plugins, ordered by their usage and popularity:

Maven Command/Plugin	Description
mvn archetype:generate -DgroupId=org.yourcompany.project -DartifactId=application	Creates a new Maven project from an archetype.
mvn archetype:generate -DgroupId=org.yourcompany.project -DartifactId=application -DarchetypeArtifactId=maven-archetype-webapp	Creates a new Maven web project from an archetype.
mvn clean	Cleans the project by deleting the target directory.
mvn validate	Validates the project structure and checks for any missing or incorrect dependencies.
mvn compile	Compiles the source code of the project.
mvn test	Runs the unit tests using a suitable testing framework.
mvn package	Packages the compiled code into a distributable format, such as a JAR or WAR file.
mvn verify	Runs any checks to verify the package is valid and meets quality criteria.
mvn install	Installs the package into the local repository, making it available for other projects on the same machine.
mvn deploy	Deploys the built artifact to a remote repository, making it available to other developers.
mvn spring-boot:run	Runs a Spring Boot application.
mvn dependency:analyze	Analyzes the project dependencies and checks for unused declared dependencies.
mvn dependency:tree	Prints a tree of project dependencies.
mvn compiler:compile	Compiles Java code using the Maven Compiler Plugin.
mvn help:describe	Provides help on a specific plugin or goal.
mvn help:effective-pom	Displays the effective POM with active profiles.
mvn jar:jar	Creates a JAR file for the project.
mvn war:war	Creates a WAR file for the project.
mvn assembly:assembly	Creates an assembly (e.g., ZIP, TAR) for the project.
mvn versions:set	Sets the project versions.
mvn wrapper:wrapper	Sets up the Maven Wrapper for the project.
mvn exec:exec	Executes a program in a forked process.
-DskipTests=true	Compiles the tests but skips running them.
-Dmaven.test.skip=true	Skips compiling and running the tests.

Conclusion

Mastering Maven commands is essential for managing your Java projects efficiently. This cheat sheet provides a quick reference to the most commonly used commands and plugins, helping you streamline your build process and manage dependencies effectively.

By understanding and using these commands, you can simplify your project builds, enhance your productivity, and ensure your applications are well-structured and maintainable. Keep this guide handy, or bookmark this page to make the most of Maven. Happy coding!