import java.io.*; import java.util.regex.*; try { File file = new File( basedir, "pom.xml" ); BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader( new FileInputStream( file ), "UTF-8" ) ); StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer(); String line = in.readLine(); while ( line != null ) { buf.append( line ); buf.append( " " ); line = in.readLine(); } Pattern p = Pattern.compile( "\\Q\\E.*\\Q\\E\\s*3\\.0\\s*\\Q\\E.*\\Q\\E" ); Matcher m = p.matcher( buf.toString() ); if ( !m.find() ) { System.out.println( "Did not update parent to version 3.0" ); return false; } System.out.println( m.group( 0 ) ); } catch( Throwable t ) { t.printStackTrace(); return false; } return true;