How to Create a Standalone Application Using Maven

How can I create a standalone application using Maven?

<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.apache.commons</groupId>
        <artifactId>commons-lang3</artifactId>
        <version>3.12.0</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Creating a standalone application with Maven involves setting up a project that can be easily managed and packaged. Maven provides a standardized way of describing the build process, dependencies, and lifecycle of your application.

<build>
    <plugins>
        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-assembly-plugin</artifactId>
            <version>3.3.0</version>
            <configuration>
                <archive>
                    <manifest>
                        <mainClass>com.example.Main</mainClass> <!-- Change to your main class -->
                    </manifest>
                </archive>
                <descriptorRefs>
                    <descriptorRef>jar-with-dependencies</descriptorRef>
                </descriptorRefs>
            </configuration>
            <executions>
                <execution>
                    <id>make-assembly</id>  
                    <phase>package</phase>  
                    <goals>
                        <goal>single</goal>
                    </goals>
                </execution>
            </executions>
        </plugin>
    </plugins>
</build>

Causes

• Lack of configuration for the Maven build process.
• Incorrect dependency management.
• Failure to specify the main class in the manifest.

Solutions

• Create a basic Maven project structure using archetypes.
• Define your application dependencies in the `pom.xml` file.
• Use the Maven Assembly Plugin to package your application as a JAR.
• Specify the main class in your application's manifest.

Mistake: Not specifying the main class in the JAR manifest file.

Solution: Ensure you configure the Maven Assembly Plugin to include the main class.

Mistake: Forgetting to install dependencies before running the application.

Solution: Run `mvn clean install` to download and set up all required dependencies.

Mistake: Incorrect project structure leading to compile errors.

Solution: Follow standard Maven directory structure: `src/main/java`, `src/test/java`, etc.