maven multimodule build: package vs. install

Question

What is the true way of building multi-module maven project: via package or via install if NONE of the modules will be a dependency for another project? I think in this case package is the only way to build it but I see how people IMO abuse the install goal. And I don't get why.

Is there any official considerations on how the multi-module project should be built?

UPD: I have only one explanation. Sometimes people just unaware of -pl , -am and -rf maven options. Thus it leads them to install the modules' artifacts into repository when they want to build part of the reactor.

Answer 1

if none of the projects is a dependency of any other project you have a weird setup. why build them together if they don't belong together?

Sometimes people just unaware of -pl, -am and -rf maven options

in a normal setup, where there are dependencies between modules, these options (at least -rf ) don't work if the modules aren't installed.

OK, you are using a dependency management system without dependencies. Yes, you can use package instead of install . But you are not avoiding bad usage patterns, you are either missing out on features or grouping things together that don't belong together.