Maven update resets Java version

Question

Everytime I modify the dependencies inside the pom.xml file in my IntelliJ Maven project, the Java version is set to 1.5 and I have to receonfigure my project.

The following settings are modified by Maven:

Settings | Compiler | Java Compiler -> Target bytecode version

And Project Settings | Modules -> Language Level

Why is this happening and what do I have to do, so that maven doesn't vandalise my settings?

Answer 1

You have to explicitely set the java version in your pom file so that version 1.5 doesn't get set by default.

<project>
 [...]
  <build>
    [...]
    <plugins>
      <plugin>
        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>3.3</version>
        <configuration>
          <source>1.8</source>
          <target>1.8</target>
        </configuration>
      </plugin>
    </plugins>
    [...]
  </build>
  [...]
</project>

Answer 2

Specify the java version under properties.

<properties>
        <java-version>1.8</java-version>
</properties>

and to use the same version with maven compile or package then include the same version in compile plug-in

       <plugin>
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
            <version>3.0</version>
            <configuration>
                <source>1.8</source>
                <target>1.8</target>
            </configuration>
        </plugin>