How to tell Maven to use Java 8

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In pom.xml, defined this maven.compiler.source properties to tell Maven to use Java 8 to compile the project.

1. Maven Properties

Java 8

pom.xml

    <properties>
        <maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
        <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
    </properties>

Java 7

pom.xml

    <properties>
        <maven.compiler.target>1.7</maven.compiler.target>
        <maven.compiler.source>1.7</maven.compiler.source>
    </properties>

2. Compiler Plugin

Alternative, configure the plugin directly.

pom.xml

    <build>
        <plugins>
            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.6.1</version>
                <configuration>
                    <source>1.8</source>
                    <target>1.8</target>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>
        </plugins>
    </build>

References

  1. Maven – Setting the -source and -target of the Java Compiler
  2. How to compile Maven project with different JDK version?

mkyong

Founder of Mkyong.com, passionate Java and open-source technologies. If you enjoy my tutorials, consider making a donation to these charities.

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sachin mishra
2 years ago

thank you

0
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Zol
3 years ago

Hi, having target and source for 1.8 (java8) at project and compiler, However mvn versions:display-dependency-updates suggests me to upgrade to spring6 and logback 1.4.5. Are you aware flags or tricks to get all jars included a war match the needs of a target platform? thx

0
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Munivelu
7 years ago

Hi, I am using java8 , maven 3.5.2 version and using below configuration in pom.xml for compile java.

org.apache.maven.plugins
maven-compiler-plugin
3.8.0

1.8
1.8

Question: Showing two versions like 49, 52 when I check java major version using javap. Requesting you to suggest me what could be the wrong?

Regards,
Munivelu.

0
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Prem
7 years ago

Hello mkyong,
I did use this for java 8. But it is showing error :
lambda expressions are not supported in -source 1.5
[ERROR] (use -source 8 or higher to enable lambda expressions)

This is my pom.xml :

4.0.0

com.example.project
Proect-MVN-Parent
0.0.1-SNAPSHOT

WebApp

false
1.8
1.8

war
Project Maven Webapp

junit
junit
3.8.1
test

org.springframework
spring-webmvc
${spring.version}

org.springframework
spring-web
${spring.version}

org.springframework
spring-tx
3.2.4.RELEASE

javax.ws.rs
javax.ws.rs-api
2.0-m03

com.fasterxml.jackson.core
jackson-core
2.6.3

com.fasterxml.jackson.core
jackson-databind
2.6.3

org.springframework
spring-jdbc
3.0.3.RELEASE

javax.servlet
javax.servlet-api
${servlet.version}
provided

org.hibernate
hibernate-core
${hibernate.version}

org.hibernate
hibernate-entitymanager
${hibernate.version}

org.springframework.data
spring-data-jpa
1.10.5.RELEASE

aopalliance
aopalliance
1.0

org.aspectj
aspectjrt
1.8.11

org.aspectj
aspectjweaver
1.8.11

YLogAPI

org.apache.maven.plugins
maven-compiler-plugin
3.6.1

${maven.compiler.source}
${maven.compiler.target}

0
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[email protected]
7 years ago
Reply to  Prem

Are you compiling with idea or mvn by itself form command line?

0
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srini
8 years ago

With jdk 8 tomcat integration getting lots of issues

-1
Reply
NMNaufaldo
6 years ago

I’m using IntelliJ, i must klik File -> Invalidate Chaces / Restart

-2
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