Error:java: invalid flag: -release

Question

I use Java :

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 9-ea+143) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-
Bit Server VM (build 9-ea+143, mixed mode)

and IntelliJ IDEA:

IntelliJ IDEA 2016.2.5 Build #IU-162.2228.15, built on October 14,
2016

Get error when compiling:

Error:java: invalid flag: -release

Executing javac -help :

--release <release>
        Compile for a specific VM version. Supported targets: 6, 7, 8, 9

So javac should use two hyphens with release, but Intellij Idea use with one.

Can I override javac options that IDEA use or fix it in some way?

UPD: Even Build, Execution, Deployment > Compiler > Java Compiler Additional Command Line Parameter doesn't help in this case

You can change compiler settings in Settings -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler. — Vladimir Petrakovich, Nov 06 '16 at 14:40
@fRoStBiT i know about this option - but now success with it- still `Error:java: invalid flag: -release` — Sergii Getman, Nov 06 '16 at 14:42
@NicolaiParlog just have downloaded IDEA today and it was 2016.2.5 — Sergii Getman, Nov 06 '16 at 19:37
Java 9 support is cutting edge so maybe it's better in the coming version - why not [give it a try](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/nextversion/)? — Nicolai Parlog, Nov 07 '16 at 06:52
@NicolaiParlog now it works correct! thanks! I even don't have to specify `--module-path` in compiler = ) btw IDEA doesn't recognize `java.lang` classes automatically, but compilation is success. Could you present you tip as an answer to allow me mark it as correct and close question? — Sergii Getman, Nov 07 '16 at 07:44

score 30 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 18 '18 at 17:12

30

I was using Java 8 and Intellij 2018.1.1

I solved the issue in this way:

open IntelliJ Idea settings
navigate to Build, Execution, Deployment > Compiler > Java Compiler
Uncheck the option: Use '--release' option for cross-compilation (Java 9 and later)

answered Apr 18 '18 at 17:12

Roberto

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I Had to do the opposite, check the option, select project bytecode version 9. – Akin Okegbile Jul 30 '18 at 20:01

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 07 '16 at 10:57

9

Java 9 support is cutting edge and should be tried with the most current version. At the moment, this is the public preview of 2016.3, available here.

answered Nov 07 '16 at 10:57

Nicolai Parlog

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3

I'm running IntelliJ 2017.1.3 and getting the same error. – Jesse Barnum Nov 10 '17 at 22:31
Try version `2017.3.4` or above. – Gayan Weerakutti Mar 06 '18 at 16:44

score 8 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 12 '17 at 07:05

8

Had exactly the same Error:java: invalid flag: -release in Intellij 2017.1. Updating to 2017.2.5 resolves the issue.

edited Nov 12 '17 at 07:05

Milad Faridnia

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answered Nov 12 '17 at 02:47

Dunx

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1

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 12 '18 at 17:13

5

Can be caused by mismatch of java version on build configuration and module settings.

answered Mar 12 '18 at 17:13

Bohdan

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Can you explain that further (if needed with reference)? Right now, your answer is very broad. – Filnor Mar 12 '18 at 21:16
He is right; if you have java 11 and javafx8, you can well run into problems. – ncmathsadist Dec 12 '19 at 19:39
The error appear when on pom: 11 but JAVA_HOME points to jdk 1.8 – Donnie Oct 29 '21 at 08:18

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 15 '18 at 13:46

4

As specified in this intellij thread you can workaround it by setting the project SDK language level to x - Experimental Features

answered Jan 15 '18 at 13:46

Adelin

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score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 22 '18 at 10:43

2

I had the same problem with IntelliJ IDEA Version 2017.1.3

Updated IntelliJ to Version: 2017.3.4 and with the latest version it works fine.

answered Feb 22 '18 at 10:43

Etibar - a tea bar

1,912
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17
30

score 2 · Answer 7 · edited Sep 17 '19 at 22:11

2

Remove --warning-mode=all (File -> Setting -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Java Compiler

ViewImage:

edited Sep 17 '19 at 22:11

Dharman

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answered Sep 17 '19 at 20:04

Kumar Vaduganathan

51
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score 2 · Answer 8 · edited May 22 '22 at 21:25

2

Remove the release tag in configuration of maven-compiler-plugin

    <plugin>
        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>3.8.0</version>
        <configuration>
            ... #here
            <source>1.8</source>
            <target>1.8</target>
        </configuration>
    </plugin>

edited May 22 '22 at 21:25

William Price

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answered May 18 '22 at 15:58

Сергей Цымбалов

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score 1 · Answer 9 · edited Feb 10 '20 at 11:52

1

You can check the JDK version, if its less than JDK8, upgrade and try again. It solved my issue.

edited Feb 10 '20 at 11:52

u-ways

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answered Feb 10 '20 at 11:46

Narendra

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score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Aug 27 '22 at 18:38

1

--release is a new option in JDK >= 9 versions

answered Aug 27 '22 at 18:38

Mahmud Dehkordi

17
1

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). – Community Sep 01 '22 at 21:09

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Sep 08 '22 at 12:48

For me, the problem cleared once I set my environment variable JAVA_HOME=%JAVA_HOME_8%

(Note: JAVA_HOME_8 and JAVA_HOME_11 are env variables that I've created myself to point to their respective versions and easily switch between). Maven (i'm using 3.8.6) seems to point the jdk using the JAVA_HOME environment variable. So even if the IDE and the pom is properly configured, depending on how your compiler/build/run plugins are setup, maven may still manage to feed off of the JAVA_HOME variable)

I've also done the following:

Modify the pom with java.version as "8"
Modify the project sdk to 1.8 (via project structure dialog)
uncheck the cross-compliation flag as mentioned in the primary solution.

score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Jan 12 '23 at 21:42

1

This is valid only if you're using Gradle(Not maven). Changing the Gradle JVM to Java 11 matching my $JAVA_HOME value worked for me.

answered Jan 12 '23 at 21:42

Hemanth Gowda

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score 1 · Answer 13 · answered Mar 27 '23 at 09:50

The -release flag is for JDK 9 and above. Please view the article from Baeldung.com: Set the Java version in .pom file from project/Setting the Java Version in Maven, the answer is based on this article.

Personally I have the following versions active.

Maven

Apache Maven 3.3.9

Java

jdk1.8.0_202, version 1.8.0_202, vendor: Oracle Corporation

IntelliJ

IntelliJ IDEA 2022.3.1 (Ultimate Edition)

In my case, I wanted to compile a library project to Java version 8, so I changed the source and target to 1.8. If you have a higher version of Java active on your computer, you should be able to build lower Java version projects as long as you specifically specify it in the .pom file of the project.

Note: "What's more, we don't need a JDK 7 installed in our machine. Java 9 already contains all the information for linking the new language features with JDK 7" from Set the Java version in .pom file from project/Setting the Java Version in Maven.

Set maven.compiler.source and maven.compiler.target project properties to the Java version you want the classes to compile to:
Set the maven-compiler-plugin source and target to Java 8 (you can also use the ${maven.compiler.source} and ${maven.compiler.source} as the version).

This should fix the error, assuming you are using a working Java JDK with proper support.

score 1 · Answer 14 · answered Jun 09 '23 at 07:34

This issue also occurs when java version used to build is not compatible with spring boot version, as for example spring boot version 3.1.0 requires java 17.If project is created with spring boot version 3.1.0 and later in pom.xml java version is downgraded to 1.8 or 11 to build with 1.8 or 11 respectively then you will get this error. So to avoid this create your project with lower spring boot version which supports your java version

Error:java: invalid flag: -release

14 Answers14

Maven

Java

IntelliJ