diff --git a/blobstore-basics/pom.xml b/blobstore-basics/pom.xml
index 9da345e7..33a29570 100644
--- a/blobstore-basics/pom.xml
+++ b/blobstore-basics/pom.xml
@@ -55,15 +55,6 @@
   <build>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}</finalName>
     <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/blobstore-largeblob/pom.xml b/blobstore-largeblob/pom.xml
index 068f584e..34f99609 100644
--- a/blobstore-largeblob/pom.xml
+++ b/blobstore-largeblob/pom.xml
@@ -76,15 +76,6 @@
   <build>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}</finalName>
     <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
         <version>2.4</version>
diff --git a/chef-basics/pom.xml b/chef-basics/pom.xml
index 49fec29c..cd0ebc1c 100644
--- a/chef-basics/pom.xml
+++ b/chef-basics/pom.xml
@@ -106,15 +106,6 @@
   <build>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}</finalName>
     <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/compute-basics/pom.xml b/compute-basics/pom.xml
index 088eb88e..51967190 100644
--- a/compute-basics/pom.xml
+++ b/compute-basics/pom.xml
@@ -92,15 +92,6 @@
   <build>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}</finalName>
     <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/glacier/pom.xml b/glacier/pom.xml
index 9af4df22..a2b6f7ec 100644
--- a/glacier/pom.xml
+++ b/glacier/pom.xml
@@ -40,15 +40,6 @@
   <build>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}</finalName>
     <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/google-lb/pom.xml b/google-lb/pom.xml
index 4dc67342..76078f76 100644
--- a/google-lb/pom.xml
+++ b/google-lb/pom.xml
@@ -61,15 +61,6 @@
   <build>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}</finalName>
     <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/openstack/pom.xml b/openstack/pom.xml
index 5bd40fd3..efc361e3 100644
--- a/openstack/pom.xml
+++ b/openstack/pom.xml
@@ -90,17 +90,4 @@
     </dependency>
   </dependencies>
 
-  <build>
-    <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
-    </plugins>
-  </build>
 </project>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index b2aa1834..a2fdf211 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
   </scm>
 
   <properties>
+    <maven.compile.source>1.8</maven.compile.source>
+    <maven.compile.target>1.8</maven.compile.target>
+
     <jclouds.version>2.1.0</jclouds.version>
   </properties>
 
@@ -73,6 +76,155 @@
 
   <build>
     <plugins>
+      <plugin>
+        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+        <version>3.1</version>
+        <configuration>
+          <compilerId>javac-with-errorprone</compilerId>
+          <forceJavacCompilerUse>true</forceJavacCompilerUse>
+          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
+          <source>${maven.compile.source}</source>
+          <target>${maven.compile.target}</target>
+          <showDeprecation>false</showDeprecation>
+          <showWarnings>true</showWarnings>
+          <compilerArgs>
+            <compilerArg>-Xlint</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xlint:-deprecation</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xlint:-processing</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xlint:-rawtypes</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xlint:-serial</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xlint:-unchecked</compilerArg>
+
+            <!-- on by default: warning -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:CannotMockFinalClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ElementsCountedInLoop:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:EqualsHashCode:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:Finally:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:IncompatibleModifiers:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JUnitAmbiguousTestClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NonAtomicVolatileUpdate:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- noisy -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NonCanonicalStaticMemberImport:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NonOverridingEquals:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:PreconditionsInvalidPlaceholder:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ProtoFieldPreconditionsCheckNotNull:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:RequiredModifiers:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:StaticAccessedFromInstance:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:StringEquality:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:SynchronizeOnNonFinalField:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:TypeParameterUnusedInFormals:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- noisy -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:UnnecessaryStaticImport:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:WaitNotInLoop:ERROR</compilerArg>
+
+            <!-- on by default: error -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ArrayEquals:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ArrayHashCode:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ArrayToString:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ArrayToStringCompoundAssignment:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ArrayToStringConcatenation:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:AsyncFunctionReturnsNull:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:BadShiftAmount:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ChainingConstructorIgnoresParameter:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:CheckReturnValue:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ClassName:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ComparisonOutOfRange:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:CompileTimeConstant:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:DeadException:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:DepAnn:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:DoubleCheckedLocking:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:EqualsNaN:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ForOverride:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:GetClassOnClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:GuardedByChecker:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:GuiceAssistedInjectScoping:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:HashtableContains:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InvalidPatternSyntax:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:IsInstanceOfClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JUnit3TestNotRun:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JUnit4SetUpNotRun:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JUnit4TearDownNotRun:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JUnit4TestNotRun:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:LongLiteralLowerCaseSuffix:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:MisusedWeekYear:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NarrowingCompoundAssignment:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NonCanonicalStaticImport:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NonFinalCompileTimeConstant:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:Overrides:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <!-- Disabled because of internal error on Windows with 2.0.5, see https://github.com/google/error-prone/issues/432 -->
+            <!-- <compilerArg>-Xep:PackageLocation:WARNING</compilerArg> -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:PreconditionsCheckNotNull:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:PreconditionsCheckNotNullPrimitive:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ProtoFieldNullComparison:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ReturnValueIgnored:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:SelfAssignment:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:SelfEquals:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:SizeGreaterThanOrEqualsZero:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:StringBuilderInitWithChar:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:SuppressWarningsDeprecated:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:TryFailThrowable:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:UnnecessaryTypeArgument:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:UnusedAnonymousClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+
+            <!-- experimental: warning -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:AssertFalse:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:AssistedInjectAndInjectOnConstructors:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:CollectionIncompatibleType:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:GuiceInjectOnFinalField:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:MissingFail:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NullablePrimitive:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:OverridesGuiceInjectableMethod:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- internal error with 2.0.5 -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:PreconditionsErrorMessageEagerEvaluation:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- internal error with 2.0.5 -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:PrimitiveArrayPassedToVarargsMethod:ERROR</compilerArg>
+
+            <!-- experimental: not a problem -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:FallthroughSuppression</compilerArg>
+
+            <!-- experimental: error -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ArraysAsListPrimitiveArray:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:AssistedInjectAndInjectOnSameConstructor:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ClassCanBeStatic:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:DivZero:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:EmptyIf:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:GuardedByValidator:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:GuiceAssistedParameters:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InjectInvalidTargetingOnScopingAnnotation:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InjectMoreThanOneQualifier:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- noisy -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InjectMoreThanOneScopeAnnotationOnClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InjectScopeAnnotationOnInterfaceOrAbstractClass:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InjectScopeOrQualifierAnnotationRetention:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:InjectedConstructorAnnotations:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JMockTestWithoutRunWithOrRuleAnnotation:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JavaxInjectOnAbstractMethod:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:JavaxInjectOnFinalField:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:LockMethodChecker:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:MalformedFormatString:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:MissingCasesInEnumSwitch:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- noisy -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ModifyingCollectionWithItself:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:MoreThanOneInjectableConstructor:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- internal error with 2.0.5 -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NoAllocation:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NonRuntimeAnnotation:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:NumericEquality:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:OverlappingQualifierAndScopeAnnotation:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:OverridesJavaxInjectableMethod:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- internal error with 2.0.5 -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ParameterPackage:OFF</compilerArg>  <!-- internal error with 2.0.5 -->
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:ProtoStringFieldReferenceEquality:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:SelfEquality:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:UnlockMethod:ERROR</compilerArg>
+            <compilerArg>-Xep:WildcardImport:ERROR</compilerArg>
+          </compilerArgs>
+        </configuration>
+        <dependencies>
+          <dependency>
+            <groupId>org.codehaus.plexus</groupId>
+            <artifactId>plexus-compiler-javac-errorprone</artifactId>
+            <version>2.6</version>
+          </dependency>
+          <dependency>
+            <groupId>com.google.errorprone</groupId>
+            <artifactId>error_prone_core</artifactId>
+            <version>2.0.5</version>
+          </dependency>
+        </dependencies>
+      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.rat</groupId>
         <artifactId>apache-rat-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/rackspace/pom.xml b/rackspace/pom.xml
index 2557e346..e0c4e1e3 100644
--- a/rackspace/pom.xml
+++ b/rackspace/pom.xml
@@ -171,17 +171,4 @@
     </dependency>
   </dependencies>
 
-  <build>
-    <plugins>
-      <plugin>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>3.1</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>${project.build.sourceEncoding}</encoding>
-          <source>1.6</source>
-          <target>1.6</target>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
-    </plugins>
-  </build>
 </project>