How to display dependency updates only for release versions

Question

When I\'m running versions:display-dependency-updates, it will show all the newest beta / milestone versions of my dependencies. I prefer using \"release\" packages

Answer 1

Two steps

Add rulesUri to the plugin configuration

    org.codehaus.mojo
    versions-maven-plugin
    2.3
    
        file:///${project.basedir}/rules.xml
    
    
        
        compile
        
            display-dependency-updates
            display-plugin-updates
        
        
    

Add the rules.xml file to your project root directory.

    
        
        (?i).*Alpha(?:-?\d+)?
        (?i).*a(?:-?\d+)?
        (?i).*Beta(?:-?\d+)?
        (?i).*-B(?:-?\d+)?
        (?i).*RC(?:-?\d+)?
        (?i).*CR(?:-?\d+)?
        (?i).*M(?:-?\d+)?
    
    
    

The regex filters out the unstable releases. You can also target rules for specific dependencies, see:

http://blog.xebia.com/keeping-dependencies-up-to-date-in-maven/

https://gist.github.com/seahrh/b13f4f3d618ad7c817038e0bc124ef29

Version rules will also stay for future releases of the plugin.