How to compile in Java 8 using Maven

10/13/2017

By default maven doesn't compile code in the JVM level. The code level can be passed to the compiler using properties.

Syntax:

<properties>
    <maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
    <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
</properties>

If the compiler cannot compile the code due to compatibility issue like using Lambda expressions with Java 5 compatibility, the following error will be returned:

ERROR] Failed to execute goal org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-compiler-plugin:3.1:compile (default-compile) on project project: Compilation failure
[ERROR] /PATH/CLASSNAME.java:[62,29] lambda expressions are not supported in -source 1.5
[ERROR] (use -source 8 or higher to enable lambda expressions)
[ERROR] -> [Help 1]

use source 8 or higher to enable lambda expressions

References:

Maven

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