Managing Maven POM metadata in Gradle-based projects, especially in multi-module setups, can quickly become a complex and error-prone task. During my recent Google Summer of Code project, I developed a solution to address these challenges: the kotlin-pom-gradle plugin.
The Problem
Many developers working with Gradle publishing face recurring issues:
- Repetitive POM configuration across multiple modules
- Inconsistent metadata between parent and child projects
- Manual artifact signature verification processes
- Lack of automated POM validation before publishing
These pain points often lead to deployment failures, inconsistent artifacts, and significant maintenance overhead in large codebases.
Enter kotlin-pom-gradle
The kotlin-pom-gradle plugin tackles these challenges head-on with three core capabilities:
1. Hierarchical POM Management
Define your POM configuration once in the root project and automatically inherit it across all submodules. This approach ensures consistency while dramatically reducing boilerplate configuration. Child projects can override specific properties when needed, maintaining flexibility without sacrificing standardization.
2. Automated Artifact Signature Verification
Built-in signature verification ensures the integrity of your published artifacts. The plugin validates signatures during the build process, catching potential issues before they reach your artifact repository.
3. Comprehensive POM Validation
Before publishing, the plugin performs thorough validation of your POM files, checking for required fields, proper formatting, and Maven Central compliance requirements. This proactive approach prevents common publishing failures and ensures your artifacts meet repository standards.
Getting Started
The plugin is available in two variants on the Gradle Plugin Portal:
- Core hierarchical POM management: io.github.yonggoose.kotlin-pom-gradle-project
- Full feature set with signing & validation: io.github.yonggoose.kotlin-pom-gradle-artifact-check-project
Installation is straightforward using the plugins DSL:
plugins { id("io.github.yonggoose.kotlin-pom-gradle-project") version "0.1.6" }
Detailed usage instructions, including a comprehensive demo video, are available in the project README.
Current Status and Future Vision
Version 0.1.6 represents a solid foundation, but this is just the beginning. The plugin architecture is designed for extensibility, with plans for additional validation rules, enhanced integration with popular Gradle plugins, and expanded customization options based on community feedback.
Community Engagement
As with any open-source project, community input is invaluable. Whether you're managing a simple multi-module project or a complex enterprise build system, I encourage you to try the plugin and share your experience. Your feedback will directly shape future development priorities and help identify new use cases.
The project welcomes contributions of all kinds—from bug reports and feature requests to documentation improvements and code contributions. Visit the GitHub repository to get started.
The kotlin-pom-gradle plugin represents the practical application of lessons learned from real-world Gradle publishing challenges. By automating repetitive tasks and providing built-in validation, it aims to make Maven artifact publishing more reliable and developer-friendly.