Maven plugin dependency - using the source plugin in all my poms

Question

I would like to configure the use of the maven source plugin for all our projects. The way our projects are currently configured we have a parent pom that is inherited by all the projects. So, in order for all projects to use the maven source plugin, I did the following:

1. Defined the maven source plugin under build -> plugin management in the parent pom

               <plugin>
               <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
               <artifactId>maven-source-plugin</artifactId>
               <version>2.2.1</version>
               <executions>
                   <execution>
                       <id>attach-sources</id>
                       <goals>
                           <goal>jar-no-fork</goal>
                       </goals>
                   </execution>
               </executions>
           </plugin>
   

2. In my project pom (the child pom), I have included the source plugin under build -> plugins

        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-source-plugin</artifactId>
        </plugin>

Could someone please tell me if this is the best way to configure this? Is there any way you can avoid specifying the source plugin in the child pom?

Answer 1

This is the best way.

To avoid having to add the plugin declaration in the child pom you could add it to the build/plugins section in the parent. The problem with that however is that EVERY child gets that invocation added even if it does not make sense if e.g. the child is a pom or ear packaging. You should therefore not do this..