How to use the mvn -D to set (multiple) properties in Maven via command line?

Question

How to use the mvn -D in maven? How to set a property (or multiple properties) using it?

Are there any official articles for mvn -D?

I couldn't find one. Thanks.

Solution

The proper way to set a property via command-line using -D is:

mvn -DpropertyName=propertyValue clean package

• If propertyName doesn't exist in the pom.xml, it will be set.
• If propertyName already exists in the pom.xml, its value will be overwritten by the one passed as argument via -D.

To send multiple variables, use multiple space delimited -Ds:

mvn -DpropA=valueA -DpropB=valueB -DpropC=valueC clean package

You can check more details about properties in Maven: The Complete Reference. More specifically, in section: 6.1. Maven Command Line Options/6.1.1. Defining Properties.

Example:

If you have in your pom.xml:

<properties>
    <theme>myDefaultTheme</theme>
</properties>

Then mvn -Dtheme=halloween clean package would overwrite themes value during this execution, having the effect as if you had:

<properties>
    <theme>halloween</theme>
</properties>

Comments

[jiafu]

if I want to set more the one property how to write it? -Dxx=11 -Dyy=2?

[earcam]

@jiafu yes, just space delimited

[acdcjunior]

Yes, as #earcam said, multiple space separated -Ds is the correct way, just like you did: -Dxx=11 -Dyy=2. Now if you have several variables that are usually used together, you should consider using profiles. Check the item "6.1.3. Using Build Profiles" of that reference link I posted in the answer.

[Olivier Boissé]

Do I need to place the system properties before the clean package command ? I don't understand why mvn clean package -DskipTests works, whereas the skipTests is placed after the command clean package

[acdcjunior]

@OlivierBoissé It works because it doesn't matter if you put the variables before or after the goals, simples as that.