Configuring the Checkstyle Plugin for use within large multimodule projects can be done, but it requires a little setup.
This example will use a mysterious project called whizbang. This is what the structure of that project looks like:
whizbang |-- pom.xml |-- core | `-- pom.xml |-- gui | `-- pom.xml |-- jmx | `-- pom.xml `-- src
We'll start by adding another sub project that will house our common configuration. Let's call it build-tools. In it we put the resources that we want to include. In this example, we will add configuration files for the Checkstyle Plugin. Configuration files for other plugins, like the PMD plugin, can be included in the same subproject if you like.
whizbang |-- pom.xml |-- build-tools | |-- src | | `-- main | | `-- resources | | `-- whizbang | | |-- checkstyle.xml | | `-- LICENSE.TXT | `-- pom.xml |-- core |-- gui |-- jmx `-- src
Tip: put the resources into a subdirectory that you can ensure will be unique and not conflict with anyone else.
The pom.xml file for build-tools should look like this:
<project> <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion> <groupId>com.example.whizbang</groupId> <artifactId>build-tools</artifactId> <version>1.0</version> <name>Build Tools</name> </project>
Now we can include the Checkstyle configuration in the top level pom.xml.
Note: You have to specify a plugin dependency on build-tools in the <build> element of your pom.xml. It will not work inside the <reporting> element, because <reporting> does not support plugin dependencies. The rest of the configuration is done in the normal way in the <reporting> element.
<project>
<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
<groupId>com.example.whizbang</groupId>
<artifactId>whizbang-parent</artifactId>
<version>1.0</version>
<packaging>pom</packaging>
<name>WhizBang Parent</name>
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-checkstyle-plugin</artifactId>
<version>2.16</version>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>com.example.whizbang</groupId>
<artifactId>build-tools</artifactId>
<version>1.0</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
<reporting>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-checkstyle-plugin</artifactId>
<version>2.16</version>
<configuration>
<configLocation>whizbang/checkstyle.xml</configLocation>
<headerLocation>whizbang/LICENSE.txt</headerLocation>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</reporting>
<modules>
<module>build-tools</module>
<module>core</module>
<module>jmx</module>
<module>gui</module>
</modules>
</project>
Once you are done with that, ensure that you do not include the Maven Checkstyle Plugin in your sub modules, as their definition and configuration, will override the top level parent pom's definition.
Based on the Checkstyle Plugin configuration above, the values of configLocation and headerLocation will be resolved from the classpath. The build-tools JAR was included in the classpath when it was declared as a dependency to the plugin.
Lastly, kick off a build of the site.
mvn site
Every sub project will now use the same Checkstyle setup and configuration.