How to install Maven on Windows, MacOS, Linux

Introduction

Apache Maven is a widely-used build automation tool for Java projects, facilitating project management, dependency management, and build automation. Proper installation and configuration of Maven are crucial for leveraging its full capabilities. This article provides a step-by-step guide on installing Maven on various platforms, setting up environment variables, and verifying the installation.

1. Installing Maven on Different Platforms

1.1. Installing Maven on Windows

1. Download Maven:
   • Visit the Maven download page.
   • Download the latest binary zip archive (e.g., apache-maven-3.x.x-bin.zip).
2. Extract the Archive:
   • Extract the contents of the zip file to a directory of your choice, e.g., C:\Program Files\Maven.

1.2. Installing Maven on MacOS

1. Using Homebrew:
   • Open Terminal.
   • Install Homebrew if it’s not already installed:

     /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh>)"
     

   • Install Maven using Homebrew:

     brew install maven
     

2. Manual Installation:
   • Visit the Maven download page.
   • Download the latest binary tar.gz archive (e.g., apache-maven-3.x.x-bin.tar.gz).
   • Extract the archive:

     tar -xzf apache-maven-3.x.x-bin.tar.gz
     

   • Move it to /usr/local (or any directory of your choice):

     sudo mv apache-maven-3.x.x /usr/local/apache-maven
     

1.3. Installing Maven on Linux

1. Using Package Manager:
   • On Debian-based systems (Ubuntu):

     sudo apt update
     sudo apt install maven
     

   • On Red Hat-based systems (Fedora/CentOS):

     sudo dnf install maven
     

2. Manual Installation:
   • Visit the Maven download page.
   • Download the latest binary tar.gz archive (e.g., apache-maven-3.x.x-bin.tar.gz).
   • Extract the archive:

      tar -xzf apache-maven-3.x.x-bin.tar.gz
     

   • Move it to /opt (or any directory of your choice):

      sudo mv apache-maven-3.x.x /opt/apache-maven
     

2. Setting Up Environment Variables

2.1. Windows

1. Open Environment Variables:
   • Right-click This PC or Computer.
   • Select Properties and then Advanced system settings.
   • Click on Environment Variables.
2. Add MAVEN_HOME Variable:
   • Click New under System variables.
   • Enter MAVEN_HOME as the variable name.
   • Enter the path to your Maven directory as the variable value (e.g., C:\\Program Files\\Maven\\apache-maven-3.x.x).
3. Edit PATH Variable:
   • Find the Path variable under System variables and click Edit.
   • Add a new entry: %MAVEN_HOME%\\bin.

2.2. MacOS and Linux

1. Open Terminal.
2. Edit Profile File:
   • For macOS, edit ~/.zshrc or ~/.bash_profile depending on your shell.
   • For Linux, edit ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile depending on your shell.

     nano ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc for macOS using zsh
     

3. Add Environment Variables:
   • Add the following lines:

     export MAVEN_HOME=/usr/local/apache-maven
     export PATH=$MAVEN_HOME/bin:$PATH
     

4. Apply Changes:
   • Save the file and apply changes:

     source ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc for macOS
     

3. Verifying the Installation

After installing Maven and setting up the environment variables, you should verify the installation to ensure everything is configured correctly.

3.1. Verify Maven Installation

1. Open a Terminal or Command Prompt.
2. Run the Maven Command:

   mvn -v
   

3. Check Output:
   • The command should display Maven’s version along with Java version and other environment details.
   • Example output:

     Apache Maven 3.x.x (Redback Java API, Apache Maven 3.x.x)
     Maven home: /usr/local/apache-maven
     Java version: 11.0.7, vendor: Oracle Corporation
     Java home: /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64
     Default locale: en_US, platform encoding: UTF-8
     OS name: "linux", version: "5.4.0-54-generic", arch: "amd64", family: "unix"
     

3.2. Common Issues

• Command Not Found
  Ensure that the Maven bin directory is correctly added to the PATH environment variable.
• Incorrect Version
  Verify that the MAVEN_HOME variable points to the correct Maven installation directory.

Conclusion

Maven simplifies Java project management and build automation. By following the steps outlined above, you can install and configure Maven on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring a smooth development experience. Proper setup of environment variables and verification of the installation will help you leverage Maven’s full capabilities for efficient project management and build processes.