pass a java parameter from maven

Question

I need to execute some tests with maven, and pass a parameter from the command line.

My java code should get the parameter as: System.getenv(\"my_parameter1\");

Answer 1

System.getenv() reads environment variables, such as PATH. What you want is to read a system property instead. The -D[system property name]=[value] is for system properties, not environment variables.

You have two options:

1. If you want to use environment variables, use the OS-specific method of setting the environment variable my_parameter1 before you launch Maven. In Windows, use set my_parameter1=, in 'nix use export my_parameter1=.

2. You can use System.getProperty() to read the system property value from within your code.

example:

String param = System.getProperty("my_parameter1");

In you surefire plugin configuration, you can use:

    
        ${my_property1}
    

Which takes the Maven property _my_property1_ and sets it also in your tests.

More details about this here.

I'm not sure if system properties from Maven are automatically passed to tests and/or whether fork mode affects whether this happens, so it's probably a good idea to pass them in explicitly.