Q: Java Spark Framework, deploy failing This seems like it should be a trivial task. But I can't quite figure out what I am suppose to do. I am new to Maven/Spark. And after searching around, looking thorough the docs and what not. I can't figure out how to start my spark application? 
I followed this guide to get set up in Intellij. 
https://sparktutorials.github.io/2015/04/02/setting-up-a-spark-project-with-maven.html
I can run all of the maven tasks, except deploy. 

Deploy fails with this error.
[ERROR] Failed to execute goal org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-deploy-plugin:2.7:deploy (default-deploy) on project framework: Deployment failed: repository element was not specified in the POM inside distributionManagement element or in -DaltDeploymentRepository=id::layout::url parameter -> [Help 1]
[ERROR] 
[ERROR] To see the full stack trace of the errors, re-run Maven with the -e switch.
[ERROR] Re-run Maven using the -X switch to enable full debug logging.

I am not sure if that matters or not? Is deploy the task intended to start the server? I am not sure.
POM.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>

  <groupId>com.krishollenbeck.framework</groupId>
  <artifactId>framework</artifactId>
  <version>1.0</version>
  <properties>
    <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
    <maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
  </properties>
  <dependencies>
    <dependency>
      <groupId>com.sparkjava</groupId>
      <artifactId>spark-core</artifactId>
      <version>2.5</version>
    </dependency>
  </dependencies>
</project>

This is what the DOCS say.

What about starting the server? The server is automatically started
  when you do something that requires the server to be started (i.e.
  declaring a route or setting the port). You can also manually start
  the server by calling init().

http://sparkjava.com/documentation.html#stopping-the-server
Okay? What does that mean? Normally there is some command or something to start a server.
Question: TL;DR
How do I start the spark server?
Additional sort of off topic:
Is spark still maintained? Is this a bad framework to use? I am looking for a light weight java server. Most of the app logic will be handled client side. Just need to handle some basic login/ CRUD stuff on the server side. And constructing some restful API.
Project Structure: (FYI)


A: RUN your main class from Intellij. OR, if you want to run it with maven do this:
mvn exec:java -Dexec.mainClass=my.IakaMain

and make sure you change my.IakaMain with yourpackage.YourClassName
Or run via Intellij Debug Configuration: (like so)

Run and view: (please note the port number is not the usual 80 or 8080)
http://localhost:4567/hello
Note: If you get this warning (annoying).

SLF4J: Failed to load class "org.slf4j.impl.StaticLoggerBinder".
  SLF4J: Defaulting to no-operation (NOP) logger implementation SLF4J:
  See http://www.slf4j.org/codes.html#StaticLoggerBinder for further
  details.

Add this to your pom.xml
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.slf4j</groupId>
    <artifactId>slf4j-simple</artifactId>
    <version>1.7.21</version>
</dependency>


A: To start the server the doc also mentions: 

You can also manually start the server by calling init().
  See: http://sparkjava.com/documentation.html#stopping-the-server

Last commit being 4 days ago, I'd bet it is still supported. 
See https://github.com/perwendel/spark/
Finally your issue comes from the fact that you need to tell the maven deploy plugin where to deploy exactly with a  tag:

To enable this mojo to function, you must include a valid  section POM

See: http://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-deploy-plugin/usage.html
As for a lightweight database, I use hsqldb but then I guess that's more of a matter of taste.
