Maven - Build Automation

Maven is a powerful build automation tool widely used in the software development industry. It simplifies the process of managing and building software projects, offering a structured approach to project configuration, dependency management, and build execution.

Build automation entails automating tasks involved in software construction, including compiling source code, running tests, packaging binaries, and deploying to production environments. Its main objectives are to enhance consistency, efficiency, and reliability throughout the software development life cycle.

Prerequisites

To get started with Maven, ensure you have the following tools installed:

• Java Development Kit
• Integrated Development Environment (we use STS)
• Command-Line Interface to execute maven commands

Tools and Technologies

• Maven tool
• Java
• Spring framework
• Spring Tool Suite (STS)
• Command Prompt/Terminal

Maven Workflow

The Maven build automation workflow typically follows these steps:

graph LR
    A[Code Check-in] --> B[Build Trigger]
    B --> C[Dependency Resolution]
    C --> D[Compilation]
    D --> E[Testing]
    E --> F[Packaging]
    F --> G[Verification]
    G --> H[Installation/Deployment]
    H --> I[Notification]

Workflow Breakdown:

1. Code Check-in: Developers commit code to a version control system (e.g., Git).
2. Build Trigger: A CI/CD server detects changes and triggers a new build.
3. Dependency Resolution: Maven fetches dependencies listed in the pom.xml file.
4. Compilation: Source code is compiled.
5. Testing: Unit tests are executed.
6. Packaging: The compiled code is packaged into a JAR or WAR.
7. Verification: Integration tests run against the packaged code.
8. Installation/Deployment: The artifact is installed in a local or remote repository.
9. Notification: Developers are notified of the build status.

Example: Create a Maven Project Using Spring Initializr

Here, we will create a maven project by using Spring Initilizer with required dependencies.

Step 1: Dependency Declaration

First, we created a maven project by using required dependencies. Add these dependencies to the pom.xml file.

<dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
        </dependency>

        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-boot-devtools</artifactId>
            <scope>runtime</scope>
            <optional>true</optional>
        </dependency>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
            <scope>test</scope>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>

Project Structure:

Step 2: Project Setup

Create a Maven project using Spring Initializr and navigate to the project folder in the command prompt by using cd command.

Here the build is the project name. After this run the maven commands to build the project.

Step 3: Run the Maven Commands

1. Now run the below command to validate the maven project.

mvn validate

Output:

2. Once project validation is successful then compile the maven project.

mvn compile

Output:

3. Once maven project compiled successfully, then test the project by using test command.

mvn test

Output:

4. Now package the maven project into JAR or WAR file format by using below maven command.

mvn package

Output:

5. Now verify the integration test of maven project.

mvn verify

Output:

Maven Build Successfully:

6. Now run maven install command to install into local repository.

mvn install

Output:

7. Once every things completed, Then ready to production by running the deploy maven command.

mvn deploy

Output:

Maven Build Successfully:

Conclusion

Maven and build automation tools are indispensable in modern software development. They streamline the build process, enhance productivity, and ensure consistent and reliable software delivery. By automating repetitive tasks and managing dependencies effectively, these tools empower developers to focus on coding, resulting in higher-quality software and faster release cycles.