 <p><code>maven</code> is a tool for build processes. You really don't have to use it.</p> <ol> <li>What you need is to write tests with a testing framework, for exapmle <code>junit</code></li> <li>The dependencies you need (<code>spring</code>, <code>junit</code>) must be in your classpath. If you're not using <code>maven</code> then any other way you prefer.</li> <li>You can use <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2235276/how-to-run-junit-test-cases-from-the-command-line">this question</a> to run tests from command line if that's what you need.</li> </ol> <p>To make it clear in other words - <code>maven</code> provides you with a build cycle that downloads your dependencies and put them in your classpath. This is something that you can do manually (configure your classpath and put needed jars in the classpath). The second thing <code>maven</code> gives you is the <code>test</code> life-cycle. But you don't have to use it and you can run unit-tests from command line according to the link I put in bullet 3 or running through the IDE. Most of <code>eclipse</code> and <code>Intellij</code> versions come with built-in support for running tests.</p>