How to Install Apache Maven on Ubuntu Linux

How to install Apache Maven with apt on Ubuntu Linux

Installing 💿 Apache Maven on Ubuntu Linux with apt is the fastest way to get the tool up and running. This method uses the built-in package manager to download Maven and OpenJDK (a free software kit needed to run Java programs) at the same time, saving you from manual setup steps.

Running the `apt install` command sets up both OpenJDK (a free, open-source Java platform) and Apache Maven.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install maven

Run the commands above to update your Ubuntu package index and install Apache Maven, along with all dependencies like OpenJDK. This remains the fastest route when specific bleeding-edge releases are not required.

To verify the installed version, run the commands below.

mvn --version

You should see something similar to the content below:

Apache Maven 3.5.2
Maven home: /usr/share/maven
Java version: 10.0.2, vendor: Oracle Corporation
Java home: /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64
Default locale: en_US, platform encoding: UTF-8
OS name: "linux", version: "4.15.0-36-generic", arch: "amd64", family: "unix"

How to download and install Maven on Ubuntu Linux

Downloading and installing Maven on Ubuntu Linux manually lets you choose a specific release instead of relying on the older version in the package manager. You need to install OpenJDK (a free program kit for running Java) first, download the archive file from the official site, and unpack it on your computer.

Run the commands below to install OpenJDK on Ubuntu Linux. This will install the current stable version of OpenJDK for Ubuntu Linux.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install default-jdk

After installing OpenJDK, continue below to get Maven installed and configured.

Apache Maven version 3.8.3 was the latest release when this post was written. Visit the Apache Maven download page to find newer versions. Downloading the latest available version is generally recommended over older ones.

Download version 3.8.3, then extract the archive directly into the /opt directory.

cd /tmp
wget https://dlcdn.apache.org/maven/maven-3/3.8.3/binaries/apache-maven-3.8.3-bin.tar.gz

Then, extract the downloaded package to the /opt directory.

sudo tar xf /tmp/apache-maven-*.tar.gz -C /opt

Consider creating a symbolic link to the version folder. This is useful for managing multiple versions and updating them as new ones come out. Run the commands below to link version 3.8.3 to the Maven home folder in /opt/Maven.

sudo ln -s /opt/apache-maven-3.8.3 /opt/maven

When the next version is released, update the symbolic link to point to the new release folder. You can accomplish this by running the command again and changing the release number in the folder name.

Setup Maven Environment Variables

Setting up Maven environment variables tells Ubuntu where to find the program files so you can run Maven commands from any terminal window. You create a configuration file named maven.sh and add paths for Java and Maven so your system knows how to run them.

sudo nano /etc/profile.d/maven.sh

Copy and paste the lines below and save them into the file.

export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/default-java
export M2_HOME=/opt/maven
export MAVEN_HOME=/opt/maven
export PATH=${M2_HOME}/bin:${PATH}

Finally, run the commands below to update and load the changes.

sudo chmod +x /etc/profile.d/maven.sh
source /etc/profile.d/maven.sh

Configuration is now complete. Run the commands below to check the version number.

mvn --version

You should see the content below.

Apache Maven 3.8.3 (ff8e977a158738155dc465c6a97ffaf31982d739)
Maven home: /opt/maven
Java version: 11.0.11, vendor: Ubuntu, runtime: /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64
Default locale: en_US, platform encoding: UTF-8
OS name: "linux", version: "5.11.0-37-generic", arch: "amd64", family: "unix"

Apache Maven remains a reliable choice for handling dependencies and builds across your development workflow.

• Apache Maven is a powerful tool for managing software projects.
• Installing Maven on Ubuntu is straightforward, with options to use package managers or manual installation.
• Using the apt package manager ensures a quick setup with stable versions.
• Manually downloading and configuring Maven is recommended for the latest features and capabilities.
• Setting up environment variables is essential for proper Maven functionality.
• Regularly check for updates to stay on the latest version of Maven, enhancing your project management experience.