Maven: copying directories using exec plugin

I'm using Maven 3.0.3. I'm having trouble using the Maven exec plugin to copy the contents of one directory to another. Sadly, when I include this plugin in my pom.xml …

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
    <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>1.1.1</version>
    <configuration>
        <executable>cp</executable>
        <arguments>
            <argument>-r</argument>
            <argument>web-app/*</argu开发者_运维百科ment>
            <argument>src/main/webapp</argument>
        </arguments>
    </configuration>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <phase>verify</phase>
            <goals>
                <goal>exec</goal>
            </goals>
        </execution>
    </executions>
</plugin>

It isn't working. I get the error below …

[ERROR] Failed to execute goal org.codehaus.mojo:exec-maven-plugin:1.1.1:exec (default-cli) on project jx: Result of /bin/sh -c cd /Users/davea/Documents/workspace/mycoUSA2/Technology/nna/myco2usa/jx && cp -r 'web-app/*' src/main/webapp execution is: '1'. -> [Help 1]

Does anyone know how I can modify my plugin config to copy the contents of one directory to another? Thanks, - Dave

If you are using bash, try the following:

<executable>bash</executable>
<arguments>
    <argument>-c</argument>
    <argument>cp -r web-app/* src/main/webapp</argument>
</arguments>

This spawns a new bash and gives it the command cp -r web-app/* src/main/webapp to execute.

You can also test if it works for you by inputting this into a normal Terminal window first:

bash -c "cp -r web-app/* src/main/webapp"

Note that the " signs do make a difference as the exec-maven-plugin does insert them automatically, thus they are not included in the <argument>-tag.

Note the command it ran. From the error output:

cp -r 'web-app/*' src/main/webapp

Note in particular the 'web-app/*' file it has tried to copy. Because it has quoted this argument the cp command is looking for a specific file with the name * in the web-app directory. Because you don't have a file with this name it has exited with the error code 1.

The maven-resources-plugin has a goal designed to perform this task. Why not give it a try? It would have the added benefit of making your build platform independent.

<plugin>
    <artifactId>maven-resources-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>2.5</version>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <phase>validate</phase>
            <goals>
                <goal>copy-resources</goal>
            </goals>
            <configuration>
                <outputDirectory>${basedir}/src/main/web-app</outputDirectory>
                <resources>
                    <resource>
                        <directory>web-app</directory>
                    </resource>
                </resources>
            </configuration>
        </execution>
    </executions>
</plugin>

1. mvn -X might be more revealing

2. Many people would use the maven-antrun-plugin and script this in ant so as to get a portable solution.