How to merge module jars to a single jar in Maven2?

Question

I have a maven2 project with several jar modules, build the project will get .jar archives for each module in the directory modules/XYZ/target/XYZ-x.x.x.jar

Now, if

Answer 1

What you want to achive is called uber jar. This module has to have dependecies of all others submodules you want to package into one jar. If you create another submodule that will produce a desired artifact it can be built in reactor with all its dependencies but if it will be a separate project that you have to install all uber jar dependecies.

| parent
| -- submodule1
...
| -- submoduleN
| -- uberjarSubmodule

Uber jar can be done by using:

1. maven-shade-plugin - in your case you have to remember to exclude transitive dependecies from your modules

   
   ...
   
   
     
       org.apache.maven.plugins
       maven-shade-plugin
       1.2.2
       
         
           package
           
             shade
           
           
             
               
                 classworlds:classworlds
                 junit:junit
                 jmock:jmock
                 xml-apis:xml-apis
               
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
   ...
   
   

2. maven-assembly-plugin - in this question you'll find a detailed answer