Alternatives to Apache Maven
A build and dependency management tool for Java projects based on a project object model. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Apache Maven
A build and dependency management tool for Java projects based on a project object model.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Apache Maven.
Gradle
An open-source build automation tool for Java, Kotlin and Android projects, with Kotlin and Groovy build scripts.
Gradle replaces Maven's XML with Kotlin or Groovy build scripts and adds build caching and parallel execution, with migration guides from Maven, though build logic can grow complex.
Bazel
An open-source build and test system for multi-language projects, with incremental builds and caching.
Bazel is a multi-language build system with incremental builds and distributed caching for large monorepos, but its build files take longer to learn than Maven's conventions.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
SDKMAN!
Manages parallel versions of JVM SDKs and build tools.
Amazon Corretto
A no-cost OpenJDK distribution from Amazon with long-term support and quarterly security updates.
Eclipse Temurin
Free prebuilt OpenJDK Java runtime and development kit binaries from the Eclipse Adoptium project.
Apache NetBeans
An open-source IDE for Java, PHP, JavaScript, HTML and other languages from Apache.
Kotlin
A concise, multiplatform programming language from JetBrains for backend, Android, web and desktop apps.
CMake
The de facto standard build system generator for C and C++, producing native build files for whatever toolchain is on the machine.
