Clirr is a tool that checks java libraries for binary and source compatibility with older releases. basically you give it two sets of jar files and clirr dumps out a list of changes in the public api. the clirr-maven-plugin can be configured to break the build, if it detects incompatible api changes. in a continuous integration process, the clirr-maven-plugin can automatically prevent accidental introduction of binary or source compatibility problems. additionally, the plugin can generate a report as part of the generated site.