Maven Build Lifecycle

Use when working with Maven build phases, goals, profiles, or customizing the build process for Java projects.

luokai0 Updated Sep 8, 2026 10 repo stars

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Maven Build Lifecycle

Master Maven's build lifecycle including phases, goals, profiles, and build customization for efficient Java project builds.

Overview

Maven's build lifecycle is a well-defined sequence of phases that execute in order. Understanding the lifecycle is essential for effective build configuration and optimization.

Default Lifecycle Phases

Complete Phase Order

1.  validate      - Validate project structure
2.  initialize    - Initialize build state
3.  generate-sources
4.  process-sources
5.  generate-resources
6.  process-resources - Copy resources to output
7.  compile       - Compile source code
8.  process-classes
9.  generate-test-sources
10. process-test-sources
11. generate-test-resources
12. process-test-resources
13. test-compile  - Compile test sources
14. process-test-classes
15. test          - Run unit tests
16. prepare-package
17. package       - Create JAR/WAR
18. pre-integration-test
19. integration-test - Run integration tests
20. post-integration-test
21. verify        - Run verification checks
22. install       - Install to local repo
23. deploy        - Deploy to remote repo

Common Phase Commands

# Compile only
mvn compile

# Compile and run tests
mvn test

# Create package
mvn package

# Install to local repository
mvn install

# Deploy to remote repository
mvn deploy

# Clean and build
mvn clean install

# Skip tests
mvn install -DskipTests

# Skip test compilation and execution
mvn install -Dmaven.test.skip=true

Clean Lifecycle

1. pre-clean
2. clean         - Delete target directory
3. post-clean

# Clean build artifacts
mvn clean

# Clean specific directory
mvn clean -DbuildDirectory=out

Site Lifecycle

1. pre-site
2. site          - Generate documentation
3. post-site
4. site-deploy   - Deploy documentation

# Generate site
mvn site

# Generate and deploy site
mvn site-deploy

Goals vs Phases

Executing Phases

# Execute phase (runs all previous phases)
mvn package

Executing Goals

# Execute specific goal
mvn compiler:compile
mvn surefire:test
mvn jar:jar

# Multiple goals
mvn dependency:tree compiler:compile

Phase-to-Goal Bindings

<build>
    <plugins>
        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
            <version>3.12.1</version>
            <executions>
                <execution>
                    <id>compile-sources</id>
                    <phase>compile</phase>
                    <goals>
                        <goal>compile</goal>
                    </goals>
                </execution>
            </executions>
        </plugin>
    </plugins>
</build>

Build Profiles

Profile Definition

<profiles>
    <profile>
        <id>development</id>
        <activation>
            <activeByDefault>true</activeByDefault>
        </activation>
        <properties>
            <env>dev</env>
            <skip.integration.tests>true</skip.integration.tests>
        </properties>
    </profile>

    <profile>
        <id>production</id>
        <properties>
            <env>prod</env>
            <skip.integration.tests>false</skip.integration.tests>
        </properties>
        <build>
            <plugins>
                <plugin>
                    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                    <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                    <configuration>
                        <debug>false</debug>
                        <optimize>true</optimize>
                    </configuration>
                </plugin>
            </plugins>
        </build>
    </profile>
</profiles>

Profile Activation

# Activate by name
mvn install -Pproduction

# Multiple profiles
mvn install -Pproduction,ci

# Deactivate profile
mvn install -P!development

Activation Triggers

<profile>
    <id>jdk17</id>
    <activation>
        <!-- Activate by JDK version -->
        <jdk>17</jdk>
    </activation>
</profile>

<profile>
    <id>windows</id>
    <activation>
        <!-- Activate by OS -->
        <os>
            <family>windows</family>
        </os>
    </activation>
</profile>

<profile>
    <id>ci</id>
    <activation>
        <!-- Activate by environment variable -->
        <property>
            <name>env.CI</name>
            <value>true</value>
        </property>
    </activation>
</profile>

<profile>
    <id>with-config</id>
    <activation>
        <!-- Activate by file existence -->
        <file>
            <exists>src/main/config/app.properties</exists>
        </file>
    </activation>
</profile>

Resource Filtering

Enable Filtering

<build>
    <resources>
        <resource>
            <directory>src/main/resources</directory>
            <filtering>true</filtering>
            <includes>
                <include>**/*.properties</include>
                <include>**/*.xml</include>
            </includes>
        </resource>
        <resource>
            <directory>src/main/resources</directory>
            <filtering>false</filtering>
            <excludes>
                <exclude>**/*.properties</exclude>
                <exclude>**/*.xml</exclude>
            </excludes>
        </resource>
    </resources>
</build>

Property Substitution

# application.properties
app.name=${project.name}
app.version=${project.version}
app.environment=${env}
build.timestamp=${maven.build.timestamp}

Build Customization

Source and Target Configuration

<properties>
    <maven.compiler.source>17</maven.compiler.source>
    <maven.compiler.target>17</maven.compiler.target>
    <maven.compiler.release>17</maven.compiler.release>
    <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
</properties>

Custom Source Directories

<build>
    <sourceDirectory>src/main/java</sourceDirectory>
    <testSourceDirectory>src/test/java</testSourceDirectory>
    <resources>
        <resource>
            <directory>src/main/resources</directory>
        </resource>
    </resources>
    <testResources>
        <testResource>
            <directory>src/test/resources</directory>
        </testResource>
    </testResources>
</build>

Final Name and Output

<build>
    <finalName>${project.artifactId}-${project.version}</finalName>
    <directory>target</directory>
    <outputDirectory>target/classes</outputDirectory>
    <testOutputDirectory>target/test-classes</testOutputDirectory>
</build>

Multi-Module Builds

Reactor Options

# Build all modules
mvn install

# Build specific module and dependencies
mvn install -pl module-name -am

# Build dependents of a module
mvn install -pl module-name -amd

# Resume from specific module
mvn install -rf :module-name

# Build in parallel
mvn install -T 4
mvn install -T 1C  # 1 thread per CPU core

Module Order Control

<!-- parent/pom.xml -->
<modules>
    <module>common</module>
    <module>api</module>
    <module>service</module>
    <module>web</module>
</modules>

Test Configuration

Surefire Plugin (Unit Tests)

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.3</version>
    <configuration>
        <includes>
            <include>**/*Test.java</include>
            <include>**/*Tests.java</include>
        </includes>
        <excludes>
            <exclude>**/*IntegrationTest.java</exclude>
        </excludes>
        <parallel>methods</parallel>
        <threadCount>4</threadCount>
        <forkCount>1</forkCount>
        <reuseForks>true</reuseForks>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

Failsafe Plugin (Integration Tests)

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-failsafe-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.3</version>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <goals>
                <goal>integration-test</goal>
                <goal>verify</goal>
            </goals>
        </execution>
    </executions>
    <configuration>
        <includes>
            <include>**/*IT.java</include>
            <include>**/*IntegrationTest.java</include>
        </includes>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

Build Optimization

Incremental Builds

# Skip unchanged modules
mvn install -amd

# Use build cache (requires Maven Daemon)
mvnd install

Parallel Builds

<build>
    <plugins>
        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
            <configuration>
                <fork>true</fork>
                <compilerArgs>
                    <arg>-J-Xmx512m</arg>
                </compilerArgs>
            </configuration>
        </plugin>
    </plugins>
</build>

Build Cache

# Enable build cache (Maven 4+)
mvn install -Dmaven.build.cache.enabled=true

Debugging Builds

Verbose Output

# Debug mode
mvn install -X

# Error stacktrace
mvn install -e

# Quiet mode
mvn install -q

Effective POM

# View resolved POM
mvn help:effective-pom

# View effective settings
mvn help:effective-settings

# Active profiles
mvn help:active-profiles

Dependency Analysis

# Check plugin versions
mvn versions:display-plugin-updates

# Check dependency versions
mvn versions:display-dependency-updates

Best Practices

Use Clean Builds - Run mvn clean before releases
Consistent Versions - Lock plugin versions
Profile Isolation - Keep profiles focused
Fail Fast - Use -ff in CI for quick feedback
Parallel Builds - Use -T for multi-module projects
Skip Wisely - Know the difference between skip options
Resource Filtering - Enable only where needed
Test Separation - Unit tests in Surefire, integration in Failsafe
Reproducible Builds - Pin all plugin versions
Document Profiles - Comment profile purposes

Common Pitfalls

Skipping Tests - Don't skip tests in CI
SNAPSHOT in Release - Remove snapshots before release
Missing Clean - Stale files causing issues
Profile Conflicts - Overlapping profile configurations
Resource Filtering - Accidentally filtering binaries
Phase Confusion - Running wrong phase
Memory Issues - Insufficient heap for large builds
Reactor Order - Module dependency issues

CI/CD Integration

GitHub Actions

- name: Build with Maven
  run: mvn -B clean verify -Pci

- name: Release
  run: mvn -B deploy -Prelease -DskipTests

Jenkins Pipeline

stage('Build') {
    steps {
        sh 'mvn -B clean package -DskipTests'
    }
}
stage('Test') {
    steps {
        sh 'mvn -B test'
    }
}
stage('Integration Test') {
    steps {
        sh 'mvn -B verify -DskipUnitTests'
    }
}

When to Use This Skill

Setting up new Maven projects
Customizing build phases
Creating build profiles for environments
Configuring test execution
Optimizing build performance
Debugging build failures
Setting up CI/CD pipelines
Multi-module project configuration

---name: maven-build-lifecycledescription: Use when working with Maven build phases, goals, profiles, or customizing the build process for Java projects.---# Maven Build LifecycleMaster Maven's build lifecycle including phases, goals, profiles, and build customization for efficient Java project builds.## OverviewMaven's build lifecycle is a well-defined sequence of phases that execute in order. Understanding the lifecycle is essential for effective build configuration and optimization.## Default Lifecycle Phases### Complete Phase Order```1. validate - Validate project structure2. initialize - Initialize build state3. generate-sources4. process-sources5. generate-resources6. process-resources - Copy resources to output7. compile - Compile source code8. process-classes9. generate-test-sources10. process-test-sources11. generate-test-resources12. process-test-resources13. test-compile - Compile test sources14. process-test-classes15. test - Run unit tests16. prepare-package17. package - Create JAR/WAR18. pre-integration-test19. integration-test - Run integration tests20. post-integration-test21. verify - Run verification checks22. install - Install to local repo23. deploy - Deploy to remote repo```### Common Phase Commands```bash# Compile onlymvn compile# Compile and run testsmvn test# Create packagemvn package# Install to local repositorymvn install# Deploy to remote repositorymvn deploy# Clean and buildmvn clean install# Skip testsmvn install -DskipTests# Skip test compilation and executionmvn install -Dmaven.test.skip=true```## Clean Lifecycle```1. pre-clean2. clean - Delete target directory3. post-clean``````bash# Clean build artifactsmvn clean# Clean specific directorymvn clean -DbuildDirectory=out```## Site Lifecycle```1. pre-site2. site - Generate documentation3. post-site4. site-deploy - Deploy documentation``````bash# Generate sitemvn site# Generate and deploy sitemvn site-deploy```## Goals vs Phases### Executing Phases```bash# Execute phase (runs all previous phases)mvn package```### Executing Goals```bash# Execute specific goalmvn compiler:compilemvn surefire:testmvn jar:jar# Multiple goalsmvn dependency:tree compiler:compile```### Phase-to-Goal Bindings```xml<build> <plugins> <plugin> <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId> <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId> <version>3.12.1</version> <executions> <execution> <id>compile-sources</id> <phase>compile</phase> <goals> <goal>compile</goal> </goals> </execution> </executions> </plugin> </plugins></build>```## Build Profiles### Profile Definition```xml<profiles> <profile> <id>development</id> <activation> <activeByDefault>true</activeByDefault> </activation> <properties> <env>dev</env> <skip.integration.tests>true</skip.integration.tests> </properties> </profile> <profile> <id>production</id> <properties> <env>prod</env> <skip.integration.tests>false</skip.integration.tests> </properties> <build> <plugins> <plugin> <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId> <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId> <configuration> <debug>false</debug> <optimize>true</optimize> </configuration> </plugin> </plugins> </build> </profile></profiles>```### Profile Activation```bash# Activate by namemvn install -Pproduction# Multiple profilesmvn install -Pproduction,ci# Deactivate profilemvn install -P!development```### Activation Triggers```xml<profile> <id>jdk17</id> <activation>  <jdk>17</jdk> </activation></profile><profile> <id>windows</id> <activation>  <os> <family>windows</family> </os> </activation></profile><profile> <id>ci</id> <activation>  <property> <name>env.CI</name> <value>true</value> </property> </activation></profile><profile> <id>with-config</id> <activation>  <file> <exists>src/main/config/app.properties</exists> </file> </activation></profile>```## Resource Filtering### Enable Filtering```xml<build> <resources> <resource> <directory>src/main/resources</directory> <filtering>true</filtering> <includes> <include>**/*.properties</include> <include>**/*.xml</include> </includes> </resource> <resource> <directory>src/main/resources</directory> <filtering>false</filtering> <excludes> <exclude>**/*.properties</exclude> <exclude>**/*.xml</exclude> </excludes> </resource> </resources></build>```### Property Substitution```properties# application.propertiesapp.name=${project.name}app.version=${project.version}app.environment=${env}build.timestamp=${maven.build.timestamp}```## Build Customization### Source and Target Configuration```xml<properties> <maven.compiler.source>17</maven.compiler.source> <maven.compiler.target>17</maven.compiler.target> <maven.compiler.release>17</maven.compiler.release> <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding></properties>```### Custom Source Directories```xml<build> <sourceDirectory>src/main/java</sourceDirectory> <testSourceDirectory>src/test/java</testSourceDirectory> <resources> <resource> <directory>src/main/resources</directory> </resource> </resources> <testResources> <testResource> <directory>src/test/resources</directory> </testResource> </testResources></build>```### Final Name and Output```xml<build> <finalName>${project.artifactId}-${project.version}</finalName> <directory>target</directory> <outputDirectory>target/classes</outputDirectory> <testOutputDirectory>target/test-classes</testOutputDirectory></build>```## Multi-Module Builds### Reactor Options```bash# Build all modulesmvn install# Build specific module and dependenciesmvn install -pl module-name -am# Build dependents of a modulemvn install -pl module-name -amd# Resume from specific modulemvn install -rf :module-name# Build in parallelmvn install -T 4mvn install -T 1C # 1 thread per CPU core```### Module Order Control```xml<modules> <module>common</module> <module>api</module> <module>service</module> <module>web</module></modules>```## Test Configuration### Surefire Plugin (Unit Tests)```xml<plugin> <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId> <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId> <version>3.2.3</version> <configuration> <includes> <include>**/*Test.java</include> <include>**/*Tests.java</include> </includes> <excludes> <exclude>**/*IntegrationTest.java</exclude> </excludes> <parallel>methods</parallel> <threadCount>4</threadCount> <forkCount>1</forkCount> <reuseForks>true</reuseForks> </configuration></plugin>```### Failsafe Plugin (Integration Tests)```xml<plugin> <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId> <artifactId>maven-failsafe-plugin</artifactId> <version>3.2.3</version> <executions> <execution> <goals> <goal>integration-test</goal> <goal>verify</goal> </goals> </execution> </executions> <configuration> <includes> <include>**/*IT.java</include> <include>**/*IntegrationTest.java</include> </includes> </configuration></plugin>```## Build Optimization### Incremental Builds```bash# Skip unchanged modulesmvn install -amd# Use build cache (requires Maven Daemon)mvnd install```### Parallel Builds```xml<build> <plugins> <plugin> <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId> <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId> <configuration> <fork>true</fork> <compilerArgs> <arg>-J-Xmx512m</arg> </compilerArgs> </configuration> </plugin> </plugins></build>```### Build Cache```bash# Enable build cache (Maven 4+)mvn install -Dmaven.build.cache.enabled=true```## Debugging Builds### Verbose Output```bash# Debug modemvn install -X# Error stacktracemvn install -e# Quiet modemvn install -q```### Effective POM```bash# View resolved POMmvn help:effective-pom# View effective settingsmvn help:effective-settings# Active profilesmvn help:active-profiles```### Dependency Analysis```bash# Check plugin versionsmvn versions:display-plugin-updates# Check dependency versionsmvn versions:display-dependency-updates```## Best Practices1. **Use Clean Builds** - Run `mvn clean` before releases2. **Consistent Versions** - Lock plugin versions3. **Profile Isolation** - Keep profiles focused4. **Fail Fast** - Use `-ff` in CI for quick feedback5. **Parallel Builds** - Use `-T` for multi-module projects6. **Skip Wisely** - Know the difference between skip options7. **Resource Filtering** - Enable only where needed8. **Test Separation** - Unit tests in Surefire, integration in Failsafe9. **Reproducible Builds** - Pin all plugin versions10. **Document Profiles** - Comment profile purposes## Common Pitfalls1. **Skipping Tests** - Don't skip tests in CI2. **SNAPSHOT in Release** - Remove snapshots before release3. **Missing Clean** - Stale files causing issues4. **Profile Conflicts** - Overlapping profile configurations5. **Resource Filtering** - Accidentally filtering binaries6. **Phase Confusion** - Running wrong phase7. **Memory Issues** - Insufficient heap for large builds8. **Reactor Order** - Module dependency issues## CI/CD Integration### GitHub Actions```yaml- name: Build with Maven run: mvn -B clean verify -Pci- name: Release run: mvn -B deploy -Prelease -DskipTests```### Jenkins Pipeline```groovystage('Build') { steps { sh 'mvn -B clean package -DskipTests' }}stage('Test') { steps { sh 'mvn -B test' }}stage('Integration Test') { steps { sh 'mvn -B verify -DskipUnitTests' }}```## When to Use This Skill- Setting up new Maven projects- Customizing build phases- Creating build profiles for environments- Configuring test execution- Optimizing build performance- Debugging build failures- Setting up CI/CD pipelines- Multi-module project configuration

luokai0/ai-agent-skills-by-luo-kai/tree/main/ai-agent-skills/22-clawhub-skills/fix-build-google-auto-maven-build-lifecycle commit 8c5f6715f4

Frequently asked questions

npx skillmds@latest add luokai0/maven-build-lifecycle