It is not necessary to include the Java version in the POM, but it is a good practice to do so. This is because it can help to ensure that the project is built and run with the correct version of Java.
If you do not include the Java version in the POM, Maven will use the Java version that is installed on the system where the project is being built. This can be problematic if you are working on a team where everyone has a different version of Java installed.
Another reason to include the Java version in the POM is that it can help to document the project's requirements. This can be useful for other developers who are working on the project, or for people who are trying to deploy the project to a production environment.
To include the Java version in the POM, you can add the following property to the <properties> section of the POM:
<properties>
<maven.compiler.source>17</maven.compiler.source>
<maven.compiler.target>17</maven.compiler.target>
</properties>
This will tell Maven to compile the project with Java 17. You can also set the maven.compiler.release property to specify the minimum version of Java that is required to run the project.
Overall, it is a good practice to include the Java version in the POM. This can help to ensure that the project is built and run with the correct version of Java, and it can also help to document the project's requirements.
Additional benefits of including the Java version in the POM:
- It can help to avoid compatibility issues between different versions of Java.
- It can help to ensure that the project is built with the latest features and bug fixes.
- It can help to make the project more reproducible and portable.
Conclusion
Whether or not to include the Java version in the POM is a matter of personal preference. However, it is a good practice to do so, as it can provide a number of benefits.
