7 Maven One-Liners Every Developer Should Know

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Maven is an essential tool for Java developers, but many don’t realize its true power beyond just mvn clean install. Here are seven incredibly useful one-liners that can make your development workflow smoother and more efficient.

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1. Check and Update Dependency & Plugin Versions

Keeping dependencies up to date is crucial for security and stability. Use the Versions plugin to check for updates:

mvn versions:display-dependency-updates

To update them automatically:

mvn versions:use-latest-releases

Similarly, update Maven plugins:

mvn versions:display-plugin-updates

This ensures your project is always running the latest stable dependencies and plugins.

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2. Run Unit Tests Without Building the Entire Project

Instead of running a full build, use this to execute only the unit tests:

mvn test

For a specific test class:

mvn -Dtest=MyTestClass test

This is a great way to speed up testing without unnecessary compilation.

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3. Skip Tests for Faster Builds

Sometimes, you want a quick build without running tests:

mvn install -DskipTests

Or to completely disable tests:

mvn install -Dmaven.test.skip=true

Use with caution, as skipping tests can lead to undetected bugs.

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4. Analyze Dependency Tree

To resolve dependency conflicts or check why a certain library is included:

mvn dependency:tree

For a more detailed view, including omitted dependencies:

mvn dependency:tree -Dverbose

This is invaluable when debugging classpath issues.

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5. Run a Web Application Without Deployment

If you're using a web framework like Spring Boot, you can start the application without deploying it manually:

mvn spring-boot:run

For a non-Spring project with a Jetty plugin:

mvn jetty:run

This saves time during development.

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6. Format Code Automatically

If your project uses the Spotless plugin:

mvn spotless:apply

This helps maintain clean and readable code.

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7. Generate a Minimal, Working Maven Project

Need to start a new Maven project quickly? Use the archetype plugin:

mvn archetype:generate -DgroupId=com.example -DartifactId=myapp -DarchetypeArtifactId=maven-archetype-quickstart -DinteractiveMode=false

This creates a simple project structure with a pom.xml and basic files ready to go.

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Conclusion

These Maven one-liners can significantly improve your efficiency when working with Java projects. Whether it’s keeping dependencies up to date, skipping unnecessary steps, or debugging dependency issues, mastering these commands will make you a more effective developer.

Have a favorite Maven trick? Share it in the comments!