Maven error: Could not find or load main class org.codehaus.plexus.classworlds.launcher.Launcher
To quickly fix the error: "Could not find or load main class org.codehaus.plexus.classworlds.launcher.Launcher", follow these steps:
- Set your
MAVEN_HOME
variable to your Maven directory: - Confirm if Maven installation is correctly set up by running
mvn -version
. - If the error still persists, re-download and re-install Maven.
This method confirms that your Maven setup isn't the issue and aids in rectifying the class loading error.
Correcting the environment setup
Environment variables checkup
After setting MAVEN_HOME
, ensure that JAVA_HOME
is pointing to the JDK installation directory, and both JAVA_HOME/bin
and MAVEN_HOME/bin
are included in your PATH
system variable. Use echo $PATH
on Unix or echo %Path%
on a Windows command prompt for confirmation.
Handling path priority
Set the PATH
variable in such a way that Java and Maven get priority i.e., placing them at the start of the PATH
. This shields against conflicts with other software having executables with a similar name.
Compatibility alignment
On Ubuntu or similar Debian-based systems, using apt-get
to install Maven can ensure more compatibility. If you're operating on MacOS 10.9, make sure to use a compatible JDK version such as JDK 1.7 or higher.
Troubleshooting Maven
Refreshing the environment
If changes to environment variables are not reflecting, a system restart might help in loading new paths. For Maven 3 users, deleting the M2_HOME
variable and adopting M3_HOME
instead might just work.
Conflict resolution
Ensure to remove any older versions of Maven or software that could conflict before engaging in a new install. Downloading Maven from the official site and favoring binary over source files aids smoother setup.
Community aid
Community forums or Stack Exchange could potentially have users who've sailed in your shoes and solved this issue. Never shy away from asking for help!
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