pom.xml environment variable with default fallback

Question

I would like to be able to use an environment variable if it's set or a default fallback value that I set in pom.xml similar to ${VARIABLE:-default} in bash. Is it possible? Something like:

${env.BUILD_NUMBER:0} 

Answer 1

I wasn't really satisfied with the accepted approach, so I simplified it a little.

Basically set a default property in the normal properties block, and only override when appropriate (instead of an effective switch statement):

<properties>      <!-- Sane default -->     <buildNumber>0</buildNumber>     <!-- the other props you use --> </properties>  <profiles>     <profile>         <id>ci</id>         <activation>             <property>                 <name>env.buildNumber</name>             </property>         </activation>         <properties>             <!-- Override only if necessary -->             <buildNumber>${env.buildNumber}</buildNumber>         </properties>     </profile> </profiles>