Maven and Gradle build tool conventions for Java projects: build tool detection, wrapper usage, dependency management, BOMs, plugin configuration, semver, and multi-module layouts. Stack-agnostic — referenced by every Java plugin in the marketplace. Use this skill to: - Detect which build tool is in use and invoke it correctly. - Manage dependencies safely (BOMs, version properties, no wildcard versions). - Configure compiler, test, and code-quality plugins. - Handle multi-module projects. ...
Scanned 9/22/2026
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---
name: build-tooling
description: |
Maven and Gradle build tool conventions for Java projects: build tool detection, wrapper usage, dependency management, BOMs, plugin configuration, semver, and multi-module layouts. Stack-agnostic — referenced by every Java plugin in the marketplace.
Use this skill to:
- Detect which build tool is in use and invoke it correctly.
- Manage dependencies safely (BOMs, version properties, no wildcard versions).
- Configure compiler, test, and code-quality plugins.
- Handle multi-module projects.
Do NOT use this skill for:
- Framework-specific build plugins (Spring Boot Gradle plugin — in spring-boot-plugin:spring-conventions).
- CI/CD pipeline config.
user-invocable: false
paths: ["pom.xml", "build.gradle*", "settings.gradle*", "gradle/**"]
---
# Build Tooling (Maven & Gradle, stack-agnostic)
## Build tool detection
Determine the build tool at the start of every task:
| Signal | Tool |
|---|---|
| `pom.xml` exists | Maven |
| `build.gradle` exists | Gradle (Groovy DSL) |
| `build.gradle.kts` exists | Gradle (Kotlin DSL) |
| Both `pom.xml` and `build.gradle*` | Unusual — flag and ask; never assume |
## Always use the wrapper
Never invoke `mvn` or `gradle` directly — use the wrapper so the team's pinned version runs.
```bash
# Maven
./mvnw <goal> # Unix
mvnw.cmd <goal> # Windows (if needed)
# Gradle
./gradlew <task>
```
If the wrapper is absent, flag it in DECISIONS and fall back to the system binary, but note that pinning is missing.
## Maven — key conventions
### Dependency management
```xml
<!-- Declare versions in <properties> — never inline literals -->
<properties>
<java.version>21</java.version>
<mapstruct.version>1.6.3</mapstruct.version>
</properties>
<!-- Import a BOM in dependencyManagement to align a family of deps -->
<dependencyManagement>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
<version>${spring-boot.version}</version>
<type>pom</type>
<scope>import</scope>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
</dependencyManagement>
<!-- Declare individual deps without <version> when BOM covers them -->
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
</dependency>
```
**Never** use `LATEST` or `RELEASE` as versions — they are non-reproducible. Pin explicitly or let a BOM manage.
### Useful goals
```bash
./mvnw compile # compile only
./mvnw test # compile + test
./mvnw package -DskipTests # build JAR/WAR, skip tests
./mvnw verify # full build incl. integration tests
./mvnw dependency:tree # show resolved dependency tree
./mvnw versions:display-dependency-updates # check for outdated deps
```
### Multi-module Maven
Root `pom.xml` declares `<packaging>pom</packaging>` and `<modules>` list. Child modules inherit `groupId` and `version` from parent. Use `<dependencyManagement>` in root to align versions across modules — child modules do not repeat versions.
## Gradle — key conventions
### Kotlin DSL (build.gradle.kts) — preferred in new projects
```kotlin
plugins {
java
application
}
group = "com.example"
version = "1.0.0"
java {
toolchain {
languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(21)
}
}
repositories {
mavenCentral()
}
dependencies {
// Import a BOM (platform)
implementation(platform("io.quarkus:quarkus-bom:3.18.0"))
implementation("io.quarkus:quarkus-resteasy-reactive")
testImplementation("org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter")
testRuntimeOnly("org.junit.platform:junit-platform-launcher")
}
tasks.test {
useJUnitPlatform()
}
```
### Groovy DSL (build.gradle) — legacy projects
```groovy
plugins {
id 'java'
}
java {
toolchain {
languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(21)
}
}
dependencies {
implementation platform('io.quarkus:quarkus-bom:3.18.0')
implementation 'io.quarkus:quarkus-resteasy-reactive'
testImplementation 'org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter'
}
test {
useJUnitPlatform()
}
```
### Useful tasks
```bash
./gradlew build # compile + test + assemble
./gradlew test # test only
./gradlew assemble # build without tests
./gradlew dependencies # dependency tree
./gradlew dependencyUpdates # with ben-manes/versions plugin
```
### Java toolchain (Gradle 7.6+)
Prefer `java { toolchain { ... } }` over `sourceCompatibility` / `targetCompatibility`. The toolchain block pins the JDK version independently of the JDK running Gradle itself, ensuring reproducibility across machines.
## Dependency version discipline
- **Use a BOM** for any framework with a family of aligned artifacts (Spring Boot, Quarkus, Micronaut).
- **Declare versions in one place** — Maven `<properties>`, Gradle `libs.versions.toml` (version catalog), or the BOM.
- **No wildcard or range versions** (`[1.0,)`, `LATEST`, `RELEASE`, `+`).
- **Test-scope only** for test frameworks (JUnit, Mockito, AssertJ, Testcontainers).
- **Provided/compileOnly** for things the container supplies at runtime (Jakarta EE APIs, `lombok` annotations if used).
## Adding a new dependency — checklist
1. Check if the BOM already manages the version — if so, omit the version.
2. Add to the correct scope (`implementation` / `testImplementation` / `compileOnly`).
3. Verify no transitive conflict: run `./mvnw dependency:tree` or `./gradlew dependencies`.
4. Record in DECISIONS if adding a new non-trivial dependency.
## Common Maven plugins (when not already configured)
```xml
<!-- Enforce minimum Maven version and dependency convergence -->
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-enforcer-plugin</artifactId>
<executions>
<execution>
<id>enforce</id>
<goals><goal>enforce</goal></goals>
<configuration>
<rules>
<requireMavenVersion><version>3.8</version></requireMavenVersion>
<dependencyConvergence/>
</rules>
</configuration>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>
```
Do not add plugins that aren't already present unless the BA spec calls for it — document in DECISIONS.
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