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How do I create an executable test jar using Maven 2?

I have a Maven 2 project which only holds TestNG tests:

./src/test/java/org/myAddress/<tests>

I am trying to create an executable JAR that includes and executes these tests. The goal is to take this jar to any machine and run the unit tests. I already have a class with a main method next too my tests, which loads and executes the testng tests.

I am having difficultly creating this JAR.

I've tried using the "maven-shade-plugin" where I can create an executable JAR that includes all of the dependencies, but I cannot get it to include the unit tests (or my main class) when I run "mvn clean package". I have also tried creating an executable JAR using the "maven-jar-plugin" with the "test-jar" goal, but I cannot get the dependencies to be included in the JAR.

Can someone please help me with this? Can I create an executable jar of tests using maven 2? If so, how? I am new to maven so any code you can provide would be very helpful.

Here is what I have currently:

<plugin> 
            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-shade-plugin</artifactId>
            <version>1.5</version>
            <executions>
                <execution>
                    <phase>package</phase>
                    <goals>
                        <goal>shade</goal>
                    </goals>
                    <configuration>
                        <transformers>                             
                            <transformer
                                    implementation="org.apache.maven.plugins.shade.resource.ManifestResourceTransformer">
                                <mainClass>org.myAddress.test.MainTestClass</mainClass>
                            </transformer>
                        </transformers>
                        <filters>
                            <filter>
                                <artifact>*:*</artifact>
                                <excludes>
                                    <exclude>META-INF/*.SF</exclude>
                                    <exclude>META-INF/*.DSA</exclude>
                                    <exclude>META-INF/*.RSA</exclude>
                                </excludes>
                            </filter>
                        </filters>
                        <finalName>uber-${artifactId}-${version}</finalName>
                        <minimizeJar>true</minimizeJar>
                    </configuration>
                </execution>
            </executions>
        </plugin>

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for_yan

perhpas this could help:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8317147/error-when-creating-an-executable-test-jar-in-maven

for_yan

also look at this (linke inside the stackoverflow solution of the previous link)
http://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-jar-plugin/usage.html#How_to_create_a_jar_containing_test_classes

TERACytEX

ASKER

I posted that question on StackOverflow :) It goes back to my point on getting it to work. You have to add all the test-scoped dependencies by hand, which is why the shade plug-in is more appealing to me. Additionally, I do not want to move my tests out of my src/test/java folder, in to the src/main/java folder, which is a step in Maven's 'preferred' way (referenced from the link at the bottom of that page).

Perhaps since I am new to Maven I am missing something. Some mini-project demonstrating the solution that I could play with would clarify things immensely for me.

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TERACytEX

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TERACytEX

ASKER

The solution is complete in what is required to achieve the result. To replicate it, all one has to do is copy and paste.