How to generate an XML schema file from (JAXB) annotated Java classes, using JDK8

Question

The instructions to generate schema through running "schenagen" as suggested in Java API documentation worked with JDK7, but not with JDK8.

Here is the documentation page: http://download.java.net/jdk8/docs/technotes/guides/xml/jaxb/index.html

Here is the line from this page with links to the instructions:

" Running the schema generator (schemagen): [command-line instructions, using the SchemaGen Ant task] "

Schema generator does not work because some classes have been removed from JDK8: "java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: com.sun.mirror.apt.AnnotationProcessorFactory"

There is another solution suggested here: Generating XSD schemas from JAXB types in Maven?

This solution also works with JDK7 but not with JDK8; it will end up with a similar error:

"Class not foundcom/sun/tools/apt/Main.class"

The root cause is probably the same: the annotation processing tools are removed from JDK8. This change was planned in JEP 117 long time ago: http://openjdk.java.net/jeps/117

How can I generate an XML schema file from (JAXB) annotated Java classes now, using JDK8?

Answer 1

This was a bug in the "jaxb2-maven-plugin". You must use the version 1.6 or later of the plugin

       <plugin>
            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
            <artifactId>jaxb2-maven-plugin</artifactId>
            <version>1.6</version>
            <executions>
                <execution>
                    <goals>
                        <goal>schemagen</goal>
                    </goals>
                    <phase>generate-resources</phase>
                    <configuration>
                        <includes>
                            <include>com/projectname/model/*.java</include>
                        </includes>
                        <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/schemas</outputDirectory>
                    </configuration>
                </execution>
            </executions>
        </plugin>