Maven test dependency in multi module project

Question

I use maven to build a multi module project. My module 2 depends on Module 1 src at compile scope and module 1 tests in test scope.

Module 2 -

   <dependency>
       <groupId>blah</groupId>
       <artifactId>MODULE1</artifactId>
       <version>blah</version>
       <classifier>tests</classifier>
       <scope>test</scope>
   </dependency>

This works fine. Say my module 3 depends on Module1 src and tests at compile time.

Module 3 -

   <dependency>
       <groupId>blah</groupId>
       <artifactId>MODULE1</artifactId>
       <version>blah</version>
       <classifier>tests</classifier>
       <scope>compile</scope>
   </dependency>

When I run mvn clean install, my build runs till module 3, fails at module 3 as it couldn't resolve the module 1 test dependency. Then I do a mvn install on module 3 alone, go back and run mvn install on my parent pom to make it build. How can I fix this?

Could you please share what your parent pom looks like?

Chris Gummer
– Chris Gummer

2009-11-12 23:51:37 +00:00
Commented Nov 12, 2009 at 23:51 — Chris Gummer
– Chris Gummer, Commented Nov 12, 2009 at 23:51

Pascal Thivent · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-14 09:02:24Z

148

I have a doubt about what you are trying to do but but I'll assume you want to reuse the tests that you have created for a project (module1) in another. As explained in the note at the bottom of the Guide to using attached tests:

Note that previous editions of this guide suggested to use <classifier>tests</classifier> instead of <type>test-jar</type>. While this currently works for some cases, it does not properly work during a reactor build of the test JAR module and any consumer if a lifecycle phase prior to install is invoked. In such a scenario, Maven will not resolve the test JAR from the output of the reactor build but from the local/remote repository. Apparently, the JAR from the repositories could be outdated or completely missing, causing a build failure (cf. MNG-2045).

So, first, to package up compiled tests in a JAR and deploy them for general reuse, configure the maven-jar-plugin as follows:

<project>
  <build>
    <plugins>
     <plugin>
       <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
       <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
       <version>2.2</version>
       <executions>
         <execution>
           <goals>
             <goal>test-jar</goal>
           </goals>
         </execution>
       </executions>
     </plugin>
    </plugins>
  </build>
</project>

Then, install/deploy the test JAR artifact as usual (using mvn install or mvn deploy).

Finally, to use the test JAR, you should specify a dependency with a specified type of test-jar:

<project>
  ...
  <dependencies>
    <dependency>
      <groupId>com.myco.app</groupId>
      <artifactId>foo</artifactId>
      <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
      <type>test-jar</type>
      <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>
  </dependencies>
  ...
</project>

answered Nov 14, 2009 at 9:02

Pascal Thivent

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5 Comments

Roman Over a year ago

Pascal. First of all thanks a lot for answering all the maven questions !! Regarding this question. I have still a problem. I have some testBase class in one of my core modules that i want to use in all of the child objects. We have currenly the maven build in our CI. If i dont want to do any install of deploy to the test-jar and just to check out a fresh copy from trunk and run the mvn test. This fails , since i dont have the test-jar anywhere yet. Any idea how to deal with that ?

Pascal Thivent Over a year ago

@Roman Running install is the "natural" way. But it looks like you found a workaround.

Dave Over a year ago

It seems to be this issue 3559 not 2045 that is the hold up at this point: jira.codehaus.org/browse/MNG-3559

Antoniossss Over a year ago

Altough this explains what is happening it does not provide workaround. It just suggest to do what OP (and eg I) is already doing.

dehidehidehi Over a year ago

Solution still works to this day, even with multi module maven projects

djvg · Accepted Answer · 2024-11-19 09:24:58Z

20

Regarding to my comment to Pascals question i think i have found a stuitable answer :

<plugins>
    <plugin>
        <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>2.2</version>
        <executions>
            <execution>
                <goals>
                    <goal>test-jar</goal>
                </goals>
                <phase>test-compile</phase>
            </execution>
        </executions>
        <configuration>
            <outputDirectory>${basedir}\target</outputDirectory>
        </configuration>
    </plugin>
</plugins>

The main difference here as you see here is the <phase> tag.

I will create the test-jar and it will be available in the compile phase of the tests and not only after the package phase.

Works for me.

edited Nov 19, 2024 at 9:24

djvg

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answered Mar 28, 2010 at 10:00

Roman

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1 Comment

Damien Over a year ago

Yes, very convenient. Thanks for sharing. I guess the deploy approach is better only when you have a corporate directory (yes, I know this is strongly recommended). Thanks @Roman

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