Whether to choose Gradle or Maven depends on project requirements and team preferences. 1. Gradle uses Groovy/Kotlin DSL, with concise syntax and supports logical control, suitable for projects that require flexible and maintainable build scripts; Maven uses XML, with clear but lengthy structure. 2. Gradle has obvious performance advantages, supports incremental construction, daemons and parallel tasks, and is faster than Maven by default, especially in large multi-module projects, which can reduce the build time by more than 50%. 3. Both support mainstream dependency management, but Gradle provides more powerful dependency resolution control, such as dynamic versions and custom rules, which are more suitable for complex dependency scenarios. 4. Maven has a smooth learning curve, rich documents, and is widely used in traditional enterprise projects; Gradle has a high learning cost, but it has become an official Android tool and is favored by modern frameworks such as Spring Boot. Therefore: if you pursue speed, flexibility and scalability, you should choose Gradle; if you pay attention to stability, standardization and team familiarity, Maven is still a reliable choice. Gradle is usually a better long-term solution for new projects, especially those with higher expected complexity.

When it comes to building Java applications, Maven and Gradle are the two most popular build tools. Both have strong ecosystems and widespread adoption, but choosing the right one depends on your project's needs, team preferences, and long-term maintenance goals. Here's a practical breakdown to help you decide.

1. Build Script Syntax: XML vs. Groovy/Kotlin DSL

Maven uses XML-based configuration files ( pom.xml ). This format is structured and predictable, but can become verbose and hard to read as dependencies and plugins grow.

 <dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.3.21</version>
</dependency>

Gradle , on the other hand, uses a Groovy- or Kotlin-based DSL (Domain Specific Language), which is more concise and expressive.

 implementation("org.springframework:spring-core:5.3.21")

? Why it matters:

• Gradle's syntax is more readable and allows for logic (like conditions and loops) in build scripts.
• Maven's XML is easier for beginners to grap initially due to its strict structure, but harder to extend.
• If you value clean, maintainable build scripts with flexibility, Gradle wins.

2. Performance: Speed and Incremental Builds

Gradle is generally faster than Maven, especially on large projects. Here's why:

• Build cache and incremental builds: Gradle only rebuilds what's changed.
• Daemon process: Gradle runs in the background, reducing startup time.
• Parallel task execution: Enabled by default in Gradle.

Maven has improved with parallel builds (since 3.0), but it still tends to be slower because it processes the entire project lifecycle more severely.

? Tip: On a multi-module project with 50 modules, Gradle can cut build times by 50% or more compared to Maven.

3. Dependency Management and Plugin Ecosystem

Both tools handle dependency management well via repositories like Maven Central.

• Maven: Uses a strict, convention-over-configuration model. Plugins are mature and standardized, but less flexible.
• Gradle: Offers more control over dependency resolution (eg, version conflict resolution strategies). Plugins are also powerful, and the Gradle Plugin Portal is growing fast.

? Key difference:
Gradle allows dynamic versioning and custom resolution rules:

 dependencies {
    implementation("org.slf4j:slf4j-api") {
        version {
            strictly "1.7.32"
        }
    }
}

Maven requires manual overrides or dependencyManagement blocks for similar control.

? Best for: Complex dependency graphs? Gradle gives you more tools to manage them.

4. Learning Curve and Community Support

• Maven has been around since 2004. It's well-documented, widely taught, and used in countless tutorials and enterprise projects.
• Gradle has a stealer learning curve due to its DSL and flexibility, but it's now the official build tool for Android and used by major frameworks like Spring Boot and Hibernate.

? Adoption trends:

• New projects, especially in microservices or cloud-native environments, often choose Gradle.
• Legacy or enterprise environments often stick with Maven for consistency.

So, Which Should You Choose?

Here's a quick decision guide:

• ? Choose Maven if:

  • You want simplicity and convention.
  • Your team is already familiar with XML and Maven workflows.
  • You're working on a standard, small-to-medium project with minimal custom logic.

• ? Choose Gradle if:

  • You need faster builds (especially for large or multi-module projects).
  • You want expressive, readable build scripts.
  • You're building Android apps or using Spring Boot (which supports both, but favors Gradle).
  • You need advanced customization (eg, custom tasks, conditional logic).

Ultimately, both tools get the job done. But Gradle offers more power and performance , while Maven offers simplicity and predictionability . For new projects, especially those expecting growth or complexity, Gradle is often the better long-term choice.

Basically, it comes down to: need speed and flexibility? Go Gradle. Prefer stability and wide familiarity? Maven's still solid.

The above is the detailed content of Choosing the Right Java Build Tool: Maven vs. Gradle. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!