---
title: "Dependency Management"
description: "Centralized Maven Bill of Materials (BOM) for all the OpenEPCIS modules."
canonical_url: "https://openepcis.io/docs/dependency-management"
last_updated: "2026-06-28T23:24:31.895Z"
---

## Quick links

Please find below the links to the codes referenced on this documentation page:

• EPCIS parent POM for dependency management application code : [https://github.com/openepcis/openepcis-bom](https://github.com/openepcis/openepcis-bom)

## Introduction

The OpenEPCIS-BOM project serves as a centralized Maven Bill of Materials (BOM) for all OpenEPCIS project. It simplifies dependency management across all OpenEPCIS modules by
providing a consistent and versioned set of dependencies. This documentation aims to explain the purpose, benefits, and usage of this BOM, offering a guide for developers and users
working with OpenEPCIS.

## What is a Maven BOM?

A Maven Bill of Materials (BOM) is a special type of POM (Project Object Model) that is used to control the versions of dependencies used in a project and its sub-modules. It does
not contain any build logic or source code but instead defines a list of dependencies with their respective versions.

**Key characteristics of a Maven BOM:**

- **Dependency Management:** It centralizes dependency version management, ensuring consistency across multiple modules.
- **Version Control:** It allows for easy updates and maintenance of dependency versions.
- **Simplified Dependency Declarations:** Child modules can declare dependencies without specifying versions, and simply inherit them from the BOM.
- **Reduced Conflicts:** It minimizes the risk of dependency conflicts by enforcing consistent versions.

**Benefits of using a BOM:**

- **Maintainability:** Easier to update dependency versions across multiple modules.
- **Consistency:** Ensures all modules use the same versions of dependencies.
- **Improved Build Reliability:** Reduces the risk of unexpected dependency conflicts.

## OpenEPCIS-BOM

The OpenEPCIS project utilizes a modular architecture, where individual modules rely on various dependencies. To ensure uniform dependency versions and
management across the project, the OpenEPCIS-BOM project was created.

**Functionality:**

- The project defines a POM file that lists all dependencies required by various OpenEPCIS modules.
- It specifies the versions of these dependencies, ensuring consistency across the project.
- OpenEPCIS modules can import this BOM to inherit the dependency versions.
- If new dependencies are introduced to OpenEPCIS modules, they are added to the OpenEPCIS-BOM with specified versions.

## Using the OpenEPCIS-BOM

To use the OpenEPCIS-BOM in OpenEPCIS module, we need to import it into your module's POM file.

**Steps:**

1. **Import the BOM:**
  - Add the following `<parent>` section to module's POM file.
  - Replace `${openepcis.version}` with the desired version of the OpenEPCIS-BOM. This variable is typically defined in the parent pom.

```xml
<parent>
    <groupId>io.openepcis</groupId>
    <artifactId>openepcis-bom</artifactId>
    <version>`${openepcis.version}`</version>
</parent>
```

1. **Declare Dependencies:**
  - In the `<dependencies>` section of your module's POM file, declare the dependencies you need without specifying versions.
  - The versions will be inherited from the OpenEPCIS-BOM.

```xml
<dependencies>
    <!-- Simple Logging Facade for Java (SLF4J) API -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
        <artifactId>slf4j-api</artifactId>
    </dependency>

    <!-- Java library for processing JSON data -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
        <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>
```

**Example POM Snippet:**

```xml
<project xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd"
         xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>

    <parent>
        <groupId>io.openepcis</groupId>
        <artifactId>openepcis-bom</artifactId>
        <version>`${openepcis.version}`</version>
    </parent>

    <artifactId>openepcis-module-name</artifactId>
    <name>openepcis-module-name</name>
    <packaging>pom</packaging>

    <dependencyManagement>
        <dependencies>
            <!-- Simple Logging Facade for Java (SLF4J) API -->
            <dependency>
                <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
                <artifactId>slf4j-api</artifactId>
            </dependency>

            <!-- Java library for processing JSON data -->
            <dependency>
                <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
                <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
            </dependency>
        </dependencies>
    </dependencyManagement>
</project>
```