I just released my first maven plugin. It’s really the simplest possible piece of code you could imagine, but yet it makes it’s goal (addings a timestamp variable to your build process) a piece of cake. You can find it at http://code.google.com/p/maven-timestamp-plugin/ along with a bugtracker and some docs.
Now, why would I write something as simple as a timestamp plugin? Well, I am the first to admit that adding timestamp in your build process is not exactly rocket science. But unfortunately most of the procedures to do just that made it seem more complicated than it should be. Either you jump through hoops trying to get a filter output back into your pom.xml, or you end up using a plugin that doesn’t have the ability to give you a customized date format (who the hell knows at first sight that the timestamp 1212931073482 means 8th june 2008 15:18h?!). So out of this frustration, the timestamp plugin was born. Have fun with it folks 
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Hi
It’s nice, but I can’t really use it unless it’s on the Maven repository. Do you have an idea when it will be integrated?
Best regards,
Eric
To be honest, after reviewing the process for adding stuff to central I didn’t want to go through with it. It would probably take very much time and months to get it approved. But since I’ve already been asked about it several times, I’ll give in an give it a real shot. Don’t expect to see this in central very soon though.
I opted for the manual process as this seems easier to do. Look at http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/MAVENUPLOAD-2338 for progress updates.
It seems that the buildnumber plugin has evolved to support timestamps too. This would make my plugin seem redundant.
buildnumber has evolued but the tag SCM is required even if you only needs the timestamp. To my mind it’s not redundant
This is definitely not redundant. This is exactly what I need!
buildnumber includes tons of excess junk (even more than Maven itself which is already ridiculously bloated). I just want a simple timestamp in my build (especially since we don’t use SVN which is required by buildnumber, even if you just want the timestamp).
Thanks for making this!