Why would gradle check pass, but gradle clean check –rerun-tasks fail?

Are you pulling your hair out trying to figure out why your Gradle build is behaving like a rebellious teenager? You’re not alone! In this article, we’ll dive into the mysterious world of Gradle builds and uncover the reasons behind this frustrating phenomenon.

What’s going on?

When you run `gradle check`, it’s essentially telling Gradle to perform a series of tasks to verify that your project is in good health. These tasks typically include compiling code, running tests, and checking for potential issues. If everything goes smoothly, Gradle will report a successful build.

However, when you add `–rerun-tasks` to the mix, Gradle is forced to re-execute tasks that have already been completed. This can lead to unexpected behavior, especially if you’ve made changes to your project since the last build.

The Problem: Caching and Incremental Builds

In an effort to speed up build times, Gradle employs a clever trick called incremental builds. This means that Gradle only re-compiles and re-runs tasks that have changed since the last build. Sounds great, right? Well, there’s a catch.

When you run `gradle clean`, you’re essentially telling Gradle to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. This includes deleting the build cache, which contains information about previous builds. By doing so, you’re essentially resetting the incremental build process.

Now, when you run `gradle clean check –rerun-tasks`, Gradle is forced to rebuild everything from scratch, but with a twist. The `–rerun-tasks` flag tells Gradle to re-execute tasks, even if they’ve already been completed. This can lead to complications, especially if you’ve made changes to your project since the last build.

Caching and the Build Cache

In Gradle, the build cache is responsible for storing information about previous builds. This includes:

• Compiled classes and resources
• Test results
• Dependency resolution information
• And other build-related data

When you run `gradle clean`, the build cache is deleted, and Gradle starts from scratch. However, if you’ve made changes to your project since the last build, the build cache might still contain outdated information. This can lead to conflicts and errors when Gradle tries to rebuild everything from scratch.

Solutions and Workarounds

Don’t worry, we’ve got some solutions and workarounds to help you overcome this issue:

1. Remove the `–rerun-tasks` flag

The simplest solution is to remove the `–rerun-tasks` flag and let Gradle handle the build process normally. This will ensure that Gradle only re-executes tasks that have changed since the last build.

gradle clean check

2. Use `gradle build` instead of `gradle check`

If you need to rebuild your project from scratch, use `gradle build` instead of `gradle check`. The `build` task will re-compile and re-run tasks that have changed, whereas `check` only verifies the build.

gradle clean build

3. Disable incremental builds

You can disable incremental builds altogether by adding the following configuration to your `build.gradle` file:

gradle.cache.maxSize = 0

This will force Gradle to re-compile and re-run tasks every time you build your project. Note that this might increase your build times, so use it wisely.

4. Use `gradle cleanBuildCache`

Gradle 4.10 and later versions provide a `cleanBuildCache` task that deletes the build cache without affecting the incremental build process. You can use this task to clean up the build cache before running your build:

gradle cleanBuildCache clean check

Conclusion

In conclusion, the mismatch between `gradle check` and `gradle clean check –rerun-tasks` is due to Gradle’s incremental build mechanism and caching. By understanding how caching and incremental builds work, you can avoid this issue and ensure a successful build.

Remember, when in doubt, remove the `–rerun-tasks` flag or use `gradle build` instead of `gradle check`. If you’re still experiencing issues, try disabling incremental builds or using `gradle cleanBuildCache`. Happy building!

Solution	Command	Description
Remove `–rerun-tasks`	`gradle clean check`	Let Gradle handle the build process normally
Use `gradle build`	`gradle clean build`	Rebuild your project from scratch
Disable incremental builds	`gradle.cache.maxSize = 0`	Force Gradle to re-compile and re-run tasks every time
Use `gradle cleanBuildCache`	`gradle cleanBuildCache clean check`	Delete the build cache without affecting incremental builds

By following these solutions and workarounds, you’ll be well on your way to resolving the mystery of the failing Gradle build. Happy coding!

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