Why isn't maven replacing the environment variable for the maven-release-plugin release version?

Question

I am trying to use the maven-release-plugin with some environment variables, but I get an issue when I use an environment variable for the release version. I am executing: ``` mvn release:clean --batch-mode -Dtag=${env.tag} -Dproject.rel.com.mycompany.project:project-root=${env.project.rel.com.mycompany.project:project-root} -Dproject.dev.com.mycompany.project:project-root=${env.project.dev.com.mycompany.project:project-root} release:prepare ``` I am getting: [ERROR] Failed to execute goal org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.4:prepare (default-cli) on project project-root: Error parsing version, cannot determine next version: Unable to parse the version string: "${env.project.rel.com.mycompany.project:project-root}" -> [Help 1] If I change the `${env.project.rel.com.mycompany.project:project-root}` to a specific version, the command will pass. But as you can see I am using: ``` ${env.tag} ${env.project.dev.com.mycompany.project:project-root} ``` with no issues. Is this a b…

Accepted Answer

you will have to use the arguments attribute: http://maven.apache.org/maven-release/maven-release-plugin/prepare-mojo.html#arguments

So in your context your cmd line will look like this (Note the double quotes as well):

```
mvn release:clean --batch-mode release:prepare "-Darguments=-Dtag=${env.tag} -Dproject.rel.com.mycompany.project:project-root=${env.project.rel.com.mycompany.project:project-root} -Dproject.dev.com.mycompany.project:project-root=${env.project.dev.com.mycompany.project:project-root}"
```

Furthermore, if i remember right the uses of the tokens ${env.X} requires the usage of the property name in upper case (to be verified)

Why isn't maven replacing the environment variable for the maven-release-plugin release version?

Solution

Problem