Maven Plugins: pom.xml Configuration Best Practices

Configure Maven plugins and profiles in pom.xml using a structured, question-driven process that preserves existing configuration. This is an interactive SKILL.

What is covered in this Skill?

Maven plugins:

• Maven Compiler
• Maven Enforcer
• Maven Surefire
• Maven Failsafe
• HTML test reports (Surefire Report, JXR)
• Maven Spotless
• Maven Flatten
• Maven Versions
• Maven Git Commit ID
• Maven Jib

Maven profiles:

• JaCoCo (code coverage)
• PiTest (mutation testing)
• Security (OWASP dependency check)
• Static analysis (SpotBugs, PMD)
• SonarQube/SonarCloud
• JMH (Java Microbenchmark Harness)
• Cyclomatic complexity

Constraints

Before applying plugin recommendations, ensure the project is in a valid state. Use a structured, question-driven process that preserves existing configuration and adds only what the user selects.

• MANDATORY: Run ./mvnw validate or mvn validate before applying any plugin recommendations
• SAFETY: If validation fails, stop and ask the user to fix issues—do not proceed until resolved
• SCOPE: Begin with Step 1 (existing configuration analysis) before any changes. Never remove or replace existing plugins; only add new ones that do not conflict
• BEFORE APPLYING: Read the reference for detailed plugin configurations, XML templates, and constraints for each step

When to use this skill

• Add Maven plugins in pom.xml
• Improve Maven plugins in pom.xml

Reference

For detailed guidance, examples, and constraints, see references/112-java-maven-plugins.md.