Version 1.8 of project facet java does not exist

Question

I'm trying to build a Dynamic Web Application in eclipse using Java 8 (and Wildfly appServer if that matters) but I'm unable to make Eclipse Luna M5 use Java 8 (I do have Java 8 BETA support installed and it works on JavaSE projects).

In my POM I set the level to Java 8:

<plugin>
    <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>3.1</version>
    <configuration>
        <source>1.8</source>
        <target>1.8</target>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

But after I do maven -> update project I get the following error:

Could not update project ExampleApp configuration
Version 1.8 of project facet java does not exist.

And indeed there is no java 1.8 project facet under project->preferences->project facets->java

Can I manually create such facet and add It to to eclipse or I'll have to wait until java 8 is released and the eclipse guys decide to add it ?

Answer 1

There are additional patches available for Kepler SR2 officially. In ecliplse, go to "Help" --> "Market Place" --> Search for java 8 kepler. Then choose and install the following.

• install Java 8 support eclipse kepler sr2,
  
• Java 8 Facets for web tools eclipse kepler sr2
  
• Java 8 support for m2e for Eclipse Kepler SR2 (if required)

Reference: http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/java8/

After this, my multi-module maven project with java 8 is building fine without any error in eclipse kepler SR2.

UPDATE: If you are using Spring Tool Suite (STS), then version 3.5.1 has included these features.

Answer 2

There is an official bug report/patch for Kepler SR2. It also works with Spring Tool Suite 3.5.0.RC4 (which is based on Kepler). It should work for Luna too.

Bug report : https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=430637 (see comment #12)

Update site for the Java 8 facet : http://download.eclipse.org/webtools/patches/drops/R3.5.2/P-3.5.2-20140329045715/repository

Answer 3

While we await official Java 1.8 support, I've made a github fork that contains what I believe are the required changes - these require the Java 8 patches from here first: https://wiki.eclipse.org/JDT_Core/Java8

To install the 1.8 facet support (assuming that you're running 4.3.1 or 4.3.2, and have write access to the main .../eclipse/plugins dir):

• git clone https://github.com/stevestorey/webtools.common.fproj
• git checkout java8-support
• Import the various projects in this feature set into your Eclipse IDE (can be on a new workspace). Specifically you need org.eclipse.wst.common.project.facet.core and org.eclipse.wst.common.project.facet.core
• Right click on the org.eclipse.jst.common.project.facet.core project and choose "Export" and then "Plug-in development\Deployable plugins and fragments"
• From the Export dialog, select only the org.eclipse.jst.common.project.facet.core plugin, and choose the bottom "Install into host" radio button, and choose a suitable path (I believe I went with the default, but I don't think it particularly matters)
• Clicking Finish will build the plugin, and then kick off the installation into your Eclipse environment.

After restarting Eclipse, you should find that 1.8 is now selectable as a Java facet :) (and it also works with M2E enabled projects that specify source/target of 1.8).

Note the instruction from the standard 1.8 patch instructions that the installed JDK /must/ be called "JavaSE-1.8" within the Eclipse properties.

Also note that if/when you update Eclipse (e.g. to upgrade to 4.3.2), you will probably need to re-install the patched version again as the update will put the "official" version of the plugin back in.

Answer 4

I hit exactly the same problem a few days ago. Looks like this will be included into the next release of Eclipse Luna.

Java Version 1.8 of project facet java does not exist

Eclipse Luna M6 is scheduled for release on March 14th so hopefully it will be included then.

Answer 5

Recently Java updated to Java 8 so you need to update to the new Eclipse for it to work. I was running Eclipse 4.3 (Kepler) and I had to upgrade to Eclipse 4.4 (Luna)

Answer 6

Go to Your Project Property search for project facet and change java version