Fatal error compiling: invalid target release: 1.8 -> [Help 1]

You have set your %JAVA_HOME to jdk 1.7, but you are trying to compile using 1.8. Install jdk 1.8 and make sure your %JAVA_HOME points to that or drop the target release to 1.7.

invalid target release: 1.8

The target release refers to the jdk version.

Put the value in the plugin:

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>3.1</version>
    <configuration>
        <source>1.8</source>
        <target>1.8</target>
    </configuration>
</plugin>

The error was use:

<source>${java.version}</source>
<target>${java.version}</target>

In my case the maven "Run configuration" was using the wrong JRE (1.7). Be sure to check Run -> Run Configurations -> (Tab) JRE to be some jdk1.8.x.