When deploying applications, tracking the correct version is essential for debugging, rollback strategies, and ensuring compatibility with other services. In Maven-based Java projects, storing the version number in a separate file facilitates easy access for various purposes.
To extract and output the Maven project version to a text file, different methods like using the Maven Resources Plugin and the Maven Antrun Plugin are explored in this article.
Using the Maven Resources Plugin involves creating a version template file and enabling resource filtering in pom.xml. This method embeds the version number into a resource file that becomes part of the final JAR or WAR.
Verifying the output after running 'mvn package' confirms that Maven successfully filters and embeds the version number into the compiled resources.
The Maven Antrun Plugin approach allows creating a standalone version file. By configuring this plugin in pom.xml, the project version number can be written to a text file during the build process.
The task inside the block writes the project's version number into the file named version.txt located in the target directory during the prepare-package phase.
Adjusting the file location in the Maven Antrun Plugin allows customization of where the version file is stored, offering flexibility on where to organize version metadata within the build.
In conclusion, leveraging the Maven Resources Plugin or the Maven Antrun Plugin automates version tracking and makes version metadata easily accessible in Maven projects, enhancing build clarity and tracking.
Both methods are simple yet effective, providing efficient ways to manage version information for application deployment and runtime analysis.
This article guides on outputting the Maven project version number to a text file using Maven plugins for improved version control and versioning processes in Java development.