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Unable to build Java project targeting JDK 11, Invalid target release 11

I have JDK 11 installed along with Maven 3.6.2 and am using error prone to compile my Java maven projects. With this configuration:
pom.xml:
<properties>
<java.version>11</java.version>
<maven.compiler.source>${java.version}</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>${java.version}</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
pom.xml:
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>${maven.compiler.plugin.version}</version>
<configuration>
<compilerId>javac-with-errorprone</compilerId>
<forceJavacCompilerUse>true</forceJavacCompilerUse>
<useIncrementalCompilation>false</useIncrementalCompilation>
<compilerArgs>
<arg>-Xep:ParameterName:OFF</arg>
</compilerArgs>
<compilerArguments>
<endorseddirs>${endorsed.dir}</endorseddirs>
</compilerArguments>
</configuration>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.codehaus.plexus</groupId>
<artifactId>plexus-compiler-javac-errorprone</artifactId>
<version>2.8.5</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>com.google.errorprone</groupId>
<artifactId>error_prone_core</artifactId>
<version>${google.error.prone.version}</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
</plugin>
I get this error:
CompilerException: InvocationTargetException: invalid target release: 11
I tried following this information:
Unable to compile simple Java 10 / Java 11 project with Maven
However, upgrading ASM did not change anything.

As per the maven documentation:
The Compiler Plugin is used to compile the sources of your project.
Since 3.0, the default compiler is javax.tools.JavaCompiler (if you
are using java 1.6) and is used to compile Java sources. If you want
to force the plugin using javac, you must configure the plugin option
forceJavacCompilerUse.
Also note that at present the default source setting is 1.6 and the
default target setting is 1.6, independently of the JDK you run Maven
with. You are highly encouraged to change these defaults by setting
source and target as described in Setting the -source and -target of
the Java Compiler.
After changing the source and target to 11 as follows:
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>11</source>
<target>11</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
the above mentioned error of invalid java 11 version didn't appear

I put in properties this: <java.version>1.11</java.version> and in maven compiler pugin of this way: <source>11</source> <target>11</target>.
It works for me.

How to build a project and load the SDK with maven

I have to create a pom.xml, which builds the entire project. But it won't load the SDK.
I tried to include dependencies, but it didn't work.
<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
<groupId>de.swp18gi.zugumzugeuropa</groupId>
<artifactId>parent</artifactId>
<version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
<packaging>pom</packaging>
<name>ZugUmZug</name>
<description>Zug um Zug Europa</description>
</dependencies>
<properties>
<java.version>10</java.version>
</properties>
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<verbose>true</verbose>
<fork>true</fork>
<debug>false</debug>
<source>10</source>
<target>10</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
<modules>
<module>client</module>
<module>common</module>
<module>server</module>
</modules>

It is given like the below :
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
Please reformat your pom.xml . Reference URL : https://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/examples/set-compiler-source-and-target.html

Forking out the java compiler does not mean that Maven does any work in locating an appropriate JVM for you.
My guess is that you want Maven to use a JDK including the compiler instead of the standard JRE the java command installed by default under Windows belong to.
The correct way to do this is to tell Maven which JDK-JVM to use (or - for advanced users - to tell it to use the Eclipse compiler)
You can either do it by setting the JAVA_HOME environment variable to point to an appropriate JDK you have downloaded and installed (these days Oracle only wants paying users so the Zulu version of OpenJDK is a suitable alternative - https://www.azul.com/downloads/zulu/) or by providing the full path to the javac you want to use in the <executable> tag. See https://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/compile-mojo.html#executable for full details.

Specifying Java version in maven - differences between properties and compiler plugin

I'm not very experienced with Maven and while experimenting with multi-module project I started wondering how can I specify Java version for all my child modules in parent Maven pom. Until today I was using just:
<properties>
<java.version>1.8</java.version>
</properties>
...but when researching I found that you can also specify Java version in Maven compiler plugin, like that:
<plugins>
<plugin>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
And then wrap this into plugin management tag to enable child poms usage of this. So the first question is this:
What are the differences beetwen setting Java version in properties and in Maven compiler plugin?
I couldn't find clear answer but in process of researching I found that you can also specify Java version in this way:
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
...which suggest that compiler plugin is there even if I don't explicit declare it. Running mvn package outputs with
maven-compiler-plugin:3.1:compile (default-compile) # testproj ---
...and some other plugins that I didn't declare.
So are those plugins default, hidden part of Maven pom? Are there any differences between setting source/target in properties and in Maven plugin configuration element?
Some other questions are - which way should be used (and when if they are not equal)? Which one is best for multi-module project and what happens if Java version specified in pom is different than version pointed in JAVA_HOME?

How to specify the JDK version?
Use any of three ways: (1) Spring Boot feature, or use Maven compiler plugin with either (2) source & target or (3) with release.
Spring Boot
<java.version> is not referenced in the Maven documentation.
It is a Spring Boot specificity.
It allows to set the source and the target java version with the same version such as this one to specify java 1.8 for both :
1.8
Feel free to use it if you use Spring Boot.
maven-compiler-plugin with source & target
Using maven-compiler-plugin or maven.compiler.source/maven.compiler.target properties are equivalent.
That is indeed :
<plugins>
<plugin>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
is equivalent to :
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
according to the Maven documentation of the compiler plugin
since the <source> and the <target> elements in the compiler configuration use the properties maven.compiler.source and maven.compiler.target if they are defined.
source
The -source argument for the Java compiler.
NOTE: Since 3.8.0 the default value has changed from 1.5 to 1.6. Since 3.9.0 the default value has changed from 1.6 to 1.7
Default value is: 1.7.
User property is: maven.compiler.source.
target
The -target argument for the Java compiler.
NOTE: Since 3.8.0 the default value has changed from 1.5 to 1.6. Since 3.9.0 the default value has changed from 1.6 to 1.7
Default value is: 1.6.
User property is: maven.compiler.target.
About the default values for source and target, note that
since the 3.8.0 of the maven compiler, the default values have changed from 1.5 to 1.6.
maven-compiler-plugin with release instead of source & target
The maven-compiler-plugin 3.6 and later versions provide a new way :
org.apache.maven.plugins
maven-compiler-plugin
3.8.0
9
You could also declare just :
<properties>
<maven.compiler.release>9</maven.compiler.release>
</properties>
But at this time it will not work as the maven-compiler-plugin default version you use doesn't rely on a recent enough version.
The Maven release argument conveys release : a new JVM standard option that we could pass from Java 9 :
Compiles against the public, supported and documented API for a
specific VM version.
This way provides a standard way to specify the same version for the source, the target and the bootstrap JVM options.
Note that specifying the bootstrap is a good practice for cross compilations and it will not hurt if you don't make cross compilations either.
Which is the best way to specify the JDK version?
The first way (<java.version>) is allowed only if you use Spring Boot.
For Java 8 and below :
About the two other ways : valuing the maven.compiler.source/maven.compiler.target properties or using the maven-compiler-plugin, you can use one or the other. It changes nothing in the facts since finally the two solutions rely on the same properties and the same mechanism : the maven core compiler plugin.
Well, if you don't need to specify other properties or behavior than Java versions in the compiler plugin, using this way makes more sense as this is more concise:
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
From Java 9 :
The release argument (third point) is a way to strongly consider if you want to use the same version for the source and the target.
What happens if the version differs between the JDK in JAVA_HOME and which one specified in the pom.xml?
It is not a problem if the JDK referenced by the JAVA_HOME is compatible with the version specified in the pom but to ensure a better cross-compilation compatibility think about adding the bootstrap JVM option with as value the path of the rt.jar of the target version.
An important thing to consider is that the source and the target version in the Maven configuration should not be superior to the JDK version referenced by the JAVA_HOME.
A older version of the JDK cannot compile with a more recent version since it doesn't know its specification.
To get information about the source, target and release supported versions according to the used JDK, please refer to java compilation : source, target and release supported versions.
How handle the case of JDK referenced by the JAVA_HOME is not compatible with the java target and/or source versions specified in the pom?
For example, if your JAVA_HOME refers to a JDK 1.7 and you specify a JDK 1.8 as source and target in the compiler configuration of your pom.xml, it will be a problem because as explained, the JDK 1.7 doesn't know how to compile with.
From its point of view, it is an unknown JDK version since it was released after it.
In this case, you should configure the Maven compiler plugin to specify the JDK in this way :
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
<compilerVersion>1.8</compilerVersion>
<fork>true</fork>
<executable>D:\jdk1.8\bin\javac</executable>
</configuration>
</plugin>
You could have more details in examples with maven compiler plugin.
It is not asked but cases where that may be more complicated is when you specify source but not target. It may use a different version in target according to the source version. Rules are particular : you can read about them in the Cross-Compilation Options part.
Why the compiler plugin is traced in the output at the execution of the Maven package goal even if you don't specify it in the pom.xml?
To compile your code and more generally to perform all tasks required for a maven goal, Maven needs tools. So, it uses core Maven plugins (you recognize a core Maven plugin by its groupId : org.apache.maven.plugins) to do the required tasks : compiler plugin for compiling classes, test plugin for executing tests, and so for... So, even if you don't declare these plugins, they are bound to the execution of the Maven lifecycle.
At the root dir of your Maven project, you can run the command : mvn help:effective-pom to get the final pom effectively used. You could see among other information, attached plugins by Maven (specified or not in your pom.xml), with the used version, their configuration and the executed goals for each phase of the lifecycle.
In the output of the mvn help:effective-pom command, you could see the declaration of these core plugins in the <build><plugins> element, for example :
...
<plugin>
<artifactId>maven-clean-plugin</artifactId>
<version>2.5</version>
<executions>
<execution>
<id>default-clean</id>
<phase>clean</phase>
<goals>
<goal>clean</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>
<plugin>
<artifactId>maven-resources-plugin</artifactId>
<version>2.6</version>
<executions>
<execution>
<id>default-testResources</id>
<phase>process-test-resources</phase>
<goals>
<goal>testResources</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
<execution>
<id>default-resources</id>
<phase>process-resources</phase>
<goals>
<goal>resources</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>
<plugin>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.1</version>
<executions>
<execution>
<id>default-compile</id>
<phase>compile</phase>
<goals>
<goal>compile</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
<execution>
<id>default-testCompile</id>
<phase>test-compile</phase>
<goals>
<goal>testCompile</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>
...
You can have more information about it in the introduction of the Maven lifeycle in the Maven documentation.
Nevertheless, you can declare these plugins when you want to configure them with other values as default values (for example, you did it when you declared the maven-compiler plugin in your pom.xml to adjust the JDK version to use) or when you want to add some plugin executions not used by default in the Maven lifecycle.

None of the solutions above worked for me straight away. So I followed these steps:
Add in pom.xml:
<properties>
<maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
<maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
</properties>
Go to Project Properties > Java Build Path, then remove the JRE
System Library pointing to JRE1.5.
Force updated the project.

The below steps work for me like charm! so thought to share with everyone.
These are the lines i added in the pom.xml file to work with a basic project. I am using Java 12 (you can replace yours 11, 10, 1.8 etc).
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>12</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>12</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.8.1</version>
<configuration>
<release>12</release>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
After changing the pom file please reload your project so that IDE can download/fetch the plugin to the project. (For IntelijIDEA: Right-click on pom.xml -> Go to maven -> Reload project).
please make sure to configure the desire version in your IDE as well.

if you are using IntelliJ idea maven build.

Consider the alternative:
<properties>
<javac.src.version>1.8</javac.src.version>
<javac.target.version>1.8</javac.target.version>
</properties>
It should be the same thing of maven.compiler.source/maven.compiler.target but the above solution works for me, otherwise the second one gets the parent specification (I have a matrioska of .pom)

For NetBeans IDE, changing project properties - (Jersey Service) - Categories > Sources >
Selected 'Source/Binary Format' as 1.8.

Java version automatically change to java 1.5 after maven update

I am using eclipse as IDE. When I right click on the project and then click maven update my java version change to 1.5. Here is what I did so far, I followed all the steps listed here
http://qussay.com/2013/09/13/solving-dynamic-web-module-3-0-requires-java-1-6-or-newer-in-maven-projects/
I changed "Java build path" to "workspace default jre 1.8.0_25"
Then changed "java compiler" to 1.8
Then changed "project facets">java>1.8
Changed pom.xml java version to 1.8
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.eclipse.jetty</groupId>
<artifactId>jetty-maven-plugin</artifactId>
<version>9.1.3.v20140225</version>
</plugin>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugin</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.1</version>
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
After all this when I click on "Maven update" my java version change to 1.5 automatically. Also in above steps, first two step's version also change to 1.5 automatically. How can I fix this?

Open your pom.xml file and add the following lines on it:
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
Where 1.8 is the Java version of your current JDK/JRE. Another way of doing this is adding a <build> with the maven-compile-plugin as:
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.2</version> <!-- or whatever current version -->
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
If you are looking for a way to make it work with Java versions 9+ please take a look at #JDelorean's answer.

Had the same issue when I installed Java 9. My project would default to J2SE-1.5 Execution Environment. Strangely, Java 9 compliance level is not referenced like previous versions, i.e. "1.8", but as "9". So I had to provide my properties and Maven compiler plugin config accordingly:
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>9</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>9</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
and
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>9</source>
<target>9</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
This seems to have solved the problem. Works for versions 9 and above.

The root-cause of this issue is that if for any reason Eclipse's cannot resolve a valid value for the maven.compiler.source property when generating/updating the .classpath file from the pom, it will simply default to using org.eclipse.jdt.launching.JRE_CONTAINER/org.eclipse.jdt.internal.debug.ui.launcher.StandardVMType/J2SE-1.5.
As expertly answered by #jorge-campos, there are multiple ways to set that property.
However, Jorge's answer didn't appear to work for me. Here were my settings:
<properties>
<javaVersion>1.8</javaVersion>
<maven.compiler.source>${java.version}</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>${java.version}</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
...
Exactly. ${java.version} is never going to resolve to the (completely different) property javaVersion and Eclipse ignored the property and used the default.
Which brings me back to the "for any reason" part I opened with; developer stupidity can be one of those reasons.

Add this lines to your pom.xml, then right click your JRE System Library -> Properties -> Set your correct execution environment to Java 1.8 or version you want to set.
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.2</version> <!-- or whatever current version -->
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>

I encounter similar issue on one of my team mate machine. He was using old version of Eclipse, I believe it he was using Keppler. Project after being updated change JRE version to 1.5.
Simple updating Eclipse to latest version solve this problem.

In my case (old JBoss Developer Studio), the issue was the JRE environments did not include 1.8 (only 1.7). When I switched the maven-compiler-plugin version to 1.7 and did maven update project, it updated the Eclipse JRE system library to 1.7.
So the solution is to either get a newer IDE version that includes a built-in JRE environment that is 1.8 or later, or try to install it manually (see https://stackoverflow.com/a/35204314)

I had this problem. In my case the <properties> tag & nested tags Jorge Campos mentions above were in the wrong place. If I put them between the <hostversion> and <dependencies> tags in the pom.xml file, then this behaviour stopped.
That can be picked up in Eclipse if validation of these files is switched on.

I am using Java 11.
This is how the complete pom.xml file looks like after adding
<properties> and <plugin>
<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
<groupId>com.akshay</groupId>
<artifactId>1000SpringSecurityEg</artifactId>
<packaging>war</packaging>
<version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
<name>1000SpringSecurityEg Maven Webapp</name>
<url>http://maven.apache.org</url>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>junit</groupId>
<artifactId>junit</artifactId>
<version>3.8.1</version>
<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
<properties>
<javaVersion>11</javaVersion>
<maven.compiler.source>${java.version}</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>${java.version}</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
<build>
<finalName>1000SpringSecurityEg</finalName>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.8.1</version>
<configuration>
<source>11</source>
<target>11</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
</project>
The above code worked for me.
Hope it works for you as well.

<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>11</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>11</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
I added these lines in my "pom.xml" file and it worked.

I allow myself to update that subject with Java 11.
I have installed OpenJDK11 on my computer, and I wanted to use it in an app.
I had trouble because Eclipse would always change my JRE to JavaSE-1.5 when I updated my project with Maven.
I had set everything as you said, but I was always directly selecting in my Java Build Path "java-11-openjdk.x86_64" as one of my Alternante JRE. I fixed my problem by selecting in "Execution environment" JavaSE-10 (but you have to double click on it and then choose as a compatible JRE your OpenJDK11 version) as shown on the picture.
Execution environment setup
The project will use Java 11 thanks to that (picture) but you have to write 10 for the java-version in the pom.xml and also set java 10 on the Project Facets.

I've resolved the issue installing the eclipse update "JAVA 12" from the market.
It makes my eclipse pass from Kepler to Luna.
After that, i have been able to set 1.8 as standard JDK, fixing the "maven update" problem.

I experienced with JRE 15.0.1 one must ONLY specify the compiler plugin like
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.8.1</version>
<configuration>
<source>15</source>
<target>15</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
If I also provide the properties like
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>15</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>15</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
this will again reset to JRE 1.5 on Maven / Update Project
!!!

Check in pom.xml under properties if there is any tag with this maven.enforcer.plugin.version. Delete it and replace that with the below code
<javaVersion>1.8</javaVersion>
<maven.compiler.source>${java.version}</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>${java.version}</maven.compiler.target>
under properties tag.
And under build, replace the plugins with the below code:
<build>
<finalName>1000SpringSecurityEg</finalName>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<version>3.5.1</version>
<configuration>
<source>1.8</source>
<target>1.8</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
This solution resolved my issue.

I changed Eclipse from kepler to neon and then updated my project by with Maven -> Update Project.

setting -source to 1.5, it is set to 1.3 apparently

I am using eclipse, with maven2 plugin.
I am trying to setup a simple annotations based spring 3 mvc web application.
So I went to RunAs and clicked on 'maven build', I set the goal as 'compile'.
When it compiles, I get the error message:
E:\dev\eclipse\springmvc2\src\main\java\web\HomeController.java:[5,1] annotations are not supported in -source 1.3
(use -source 5 or higher to enable annotations)
#Controller
so far I modified the eclipse.ini to use the jdk. I also made sure under preferences, it is at java 1.6.
Not sure where else to change the java version?
(I am assuming source 1.3 means java 1.3 and that I need it to be at least version 1.5 compatible)

You should also set a proper source version in pom.xml (because maven can make builds without Eclipse, so it can't use Eclipse preferences):
<project ...>
...
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>1.5</source>
<target>1.5</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
...
</project>