How to Set Multiple Properties in Maven Using the Command Line with -D Option

How can I set multiple properties in Maven using the -D option from the command line?

mvn clean package -Dproperty1=value1 -Dproperty2=value2

Maven allows you to set properties directly from the command line using the -D flag. This feature is particularly useful when you want to customize the build without altering the POM file directly. Here’s how to do it correctly:

mvn clean install -DskipTests=true -Denv=development -Dversion=1.0-SNAPSHOT

Causes

• Improper syntax in the command line can lead to errors.
• Not escaping spaces or special characters in property values may cause issues.

Solutions

• Use the correct syntax: mvn clean install -Dproperty1=value1 -Dproperty2=value2 to set multiple properties.
• If property values contain spaces or special characters, surround the value with quotation marks, e.g., -Dproperty='value with spaces'.
• For a more complex example, consider using a backslash to escape special characters.

Mistake: Forgetting to use quotes around property values with spaces.

Solution: Use quotes to ensure properties are passed correctly: -Dproperty='value with spaces'.

Mistake: Not separating properties with spaces when specifying multiple -D flags.

Solution: Ensure each property is prefixed by its own -D option, e.g., -Dproperty1=value1 -Dproperty2=value2.