How to Resolve the Maven Error: “Invalid target release: 17”

Maven is a powerful project management tool used by developers worldwide to handle project builds, dependencies, and documentation. However, it’s not uncommon to encounter errors during the build process. One such error is “Invalid target release: 17”, which typically occurs when compiling a project with Maven. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on identifying and resolving this error to ensure a smooth build process.

Understanding the Error

The error message “Invalid target release: 17” indicates that Maven is attempting to compile the project using Java version 17, but it’s unable to do so. This could be due to several reasons:

• The JDK (Java Development Kit) installed on the system is older than version 17.
• Maven is not correctly configured to use the JDK version 17.
• The JAVA_HOME environment variable is not set to point to the JDK 17 installation directory.

Steps to Resolve the Error

Step 1: Verify JDK Installation

The first step is to ensure that JDK 17 is installed on your system. Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command to check the installed JDK version:

java -version

If the version displayed is less than 17, you need to download and install JDK 17 from the official Oracle website or adopt OpenJDK.

Step 2: Set JAVA_HOME Environment Variable

Once JDK 17 is installed, ensure that the JAVA_HOME environment variable is set to the JDK 17 installation path. The process to set this variable differs across operating systems:

• Windows: Search for Environment Variables in the system settings and add or update the JAVA_HOME variable to point to the JDK 17 directory, e.g., C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.
• Linux/macOS: Add the following line to your .bashrc or .zshrc file:

  export JAVA_HOME=/path/to/jdk-17
  

  Replace /path/to/jdk-17 with the actual installation path of JDK 17.

Step 3: Update Maven Project Configuration

Ensure that your pom.xml file specifies the correct Java version. Look for the <maven.compiler.source> and <maven.compiler.target> tags in the file and set their values to 17, like so:

<properties>
    <maven.compiler.source>17</maven.compiler.source>
    <maven.compiler.target>17</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>

This instructs Maven to use Java version 17 for compilation.

Step 4: Use Maven Wrapper

If the error persists, consider using Maven Wrapper for your project. Maven Wrapper ensures that everyone working on the project uses the same Maven version, potentially avoiding inconsistencies that could lead to this error. To generate Maven Wrapper files, run the following command in your project directory:

mvn -N io.takari:maven:wrapper

Step 5: Update IDE Settings

If you’re using an IDE like IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse, ensure that it’s configured to use JDK 17 for the project. This can usually be done in the project settings or preferences menu.

Conclusion

The “Invalid target release: 17” error in Maven can be a stumbling block in your project’s build process, but it’s usually straightforward to resolve. By ensuring that JDK 17 is installed, correctly setting the JAVA_HOME environment variable, updating your Maven project configuration, considering Maven Wrapper, and configuring your IDE settings, you can overcome this issue and continue with your development workflow seamlessly.