How can I create an executable jar without dependencies using Maven?

Question

I want to package it not in a single executable jar for distribution. I need an executable to be something like main.jar and all dependencies to be in libs/*.jar

How

Answer 1

I prefer this a bit modified solution. Create Your executable jar with classpath set and copy all dependencies to given directory.

You don't need any additional files.

Dependencies are being copied during install phase.

    
        
            org.apache.maven.plugins
            maven-jar-plugin
            
                
                    
                        true
                        lib/
                        fully.qualified.MainClass
                    
                
            
        

        
            org.apache.maven.plugins
            maven-dependency-plugin
            
                
                    install
                    
                        copy-dependencies
                    
                    
                        ${project.build.directory}/lib
                        
                        
                        runtime
                        provided
                        
                    
                
            
        
    

I updated the answer to copy only runtime dependencies as described here - copying the right dependencies. Test and provided dependencies are excluded.

It turns out that if you want to exclude dependencies from both the test and provided scopes, you need to exclude the provided scope and include the runtime scope.