Package org.gradle.tooling

# Class GradleConnector

java.lang.Object
org.gradle.tooling.GradleConnector

public abstract class GradleConnector extends Object

A `GradleConnector` is the main entry point to the Gradle tooling API. You use this API as follows:

1. Call `newConnector()` to create a new connector instance.
2. Configure the connector. You must call `forProjectDirectory(java.io.File)` to specify which project you wish to connect to. Other methods are optional.
3. Call `connect()` to create the connection to a project.
4. When finished with the connection, call `ProjectConnection.close()` to clean up.

Example:

     ProjectConnection connection = GradleConnector.newConnector()
        .forProjectDirectory(new File("someProjectFolder"))
        .connect();

     try {
        connection.newBuild().forTasks("tasks").run();
     } finally {
        connection.close();
     }

The connection will use the version of Gradle that the target build is configured to use, for example in the Gradle wrapper properties file. When no Gradle version is defined for the build, the connection will use the tooling API's version as the Gradle version to run the build. Generally, you should avoid configuring a Gradle distribution or version and instead use the default provided by the tooling API.

Similarly, the connection will use the JVM and JVM arguments that the target build is configured to use, for example in the `gradle.properties` file. When no JVM or JVM arguments are defined for the build, the connection will use the current JVM and some default JVM arguments.

`GradleConnector` instances are not thread-safe. If you want to use a `GradleConnector` concurrently you must always create a new instance for each thread using `newConnector()`. Note, however, the `ProjectConnection` instances that a connector creates are completely thread-safe.

## Gradle version compatibility

The Tooling API is both forwards and backwards compatible with other versions of Gradle. It supports execution of Gradle builds that use older or newer versions of Gradle. Each release of Gradle contains a new release of the Tooling API as well.

The Tooling API supports running builds using Gradle version 4.0 and up.

You should note that not all features of the Tooling API are available for all versions of Gradle. Refer to the documentation for each class and method for more details.

Builds using Gradle 5.0 and up require the use of Tooling API version 3.0 or later.

## Java version compatibility

The Tooling API requires Java 8 or later. The Gradle version used by builds may have additional Java version requirements.

Since:
  1.0-milestone-3

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `GradleConnector()`

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `abstract ProjectConnection`
  `connect()`
  Creates a connection to the project in the specified project directory.
  `abstract void`
  `disconnect()`
  Disconnects all ProjectConnection instances created by this connector.
  `abstract GradleConnector`
  `forProjectDirectory(File projectDir)`
  Specifies the working directory to use.
  `static CancellationTokenSource`
  `newCancellationTokenSource()`
  Creates a new `CancellationTokenSource` that can be used to cancel one or more `LongRunningOperation` executions.
  `static GradleConnector`
  `newConnector()`
  Creates a new connector instance.
  `abstract GradleConnector`
  `useBuildDistribution()`
  Specifies to use the Gradle distribution defined by the target Gradle build.
  `abstract GradleConnector`
  `useDistribution(URI gradleDistribution)`
  Specifies which Gradle distribution to use.
  `abstract GradleConnector`
  `useGradleUserHomeDir(File gradleUserHomeDir)`
  Specifies the user's Gradle home directory to use.
  `abstract GradleConnector`
  `useGradleVersion(String gradleVersion)`
  Specifies which Gradle version to use.
  `abstract GradleConnector`
  `useInstallation(File gradleHome)`
  Specifies which Gradle installation to use.

  ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### GradleConnector

    public GradleConnector()

- ## Method Details

  - ### newConnector

    public static GradleConnector newConnector()
    Creates a new connector instance.
    Returns:
      The instance. Never returns null.
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### newCancellationTokenSource

    public static CancellationTokenSource newCancellationTokenSource()
    Creates a new `CancellationTokenSource` that can be used to cancel one or more `LongRunningOperation` executions.
    Returns:
      The instance. Never returns `null`.
    Since:
      2.1

  - ### useInstallation

    public abstract GradleConnector useInstallation(File gradleHome)
    Specifies which Gradle installation to use. This replaces any value specified using `useDistribution(URI)`, `useGradleVersion(String)`, or `useBuildDistribution()`. Defaults to a project-specific Gradle version.
    Parameters:
      `gradleHome` - The Gradle installation directory.
    Returns:
      this
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### useGradleVersion

    public abstract GradleConnector useGradleVersion(String gradleVersion)
    Specifies which Gradle version to use. The appropriate distribution is downloaded and installed into the user's Gradle home directory. This replaces any value specified using `useInstallation(File)`, `useDistribution(URI)`, or `useBuildDistribution()`. Defaults to a project-specific Gradle version.
    Parameters:
      `gradleVersion` - The version to use.
    Returns:
      this
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### useDistribution

    public abstract GradleConnector useDistribution(URI gradleDistribution)
    Specifies which Gradle distribution to use. The appropriate distribution is downloaded and installed into the user's Gradle home directory. This replaces any value specified using `useInstallation(File)`, `useGradleVersion(String)`, or `useBuildDistribution()`. Defaults to a project-specific Gradle version.
    Parameters:
      `gradleDistribution` - The distribution to use.
    Returns:
      this
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### useBuildDistribution

    public abstract GradleConnector useBuildDistribution()
    Specifies to use the Gradle distribution defined by the target Gradle build. The appropriate distribution defined by the target Gradle build is downloaded and installed into the user's Gradle home directory. If the target Gradle build does not define the distribution that it should be built with, the Gradle version of this connector is used. This replaces any value specified using `useInstallation(File)`, `useDistribution(URI)`, or `useGradleVersion(String)`. Acts as the default behavior.
    Returns:
      this
    Since:
      2.3

  - ### forProjectDirectory

    public abstract GradleConnector forProjectDirectory(File projectDir)
    Specifies the working directory to use.
    Parameters:
      `projectDir` - The working directory.
    Returns:
      this
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### useGradleUserHomeDir

    public abstract GradleConnector useGradleUserHomeDir(File gradleUserHomeDir)
    Specifies the user's Gradle home directory to use. Defaults to `~/.gradle`.
    Parameters:
      `gradleUserHomeDir` - The user's Gradle home directory to use.
    Returns:
      this
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### connect

    public abstract ProjectConnection connect() throws GradleConnectionException
    Creates a connection to the project in the specified project directory. You should call `ProjectConnection.close()` when you are finished with the connection.

    Note, that the returned instance does not automatically pick up changes if the connection configuration (e.g. the gradle.properties file) changes. It's the client's responsibility to close the connection and create a new one in that scenario.

    Returns:
      The connection. Never return null.
    Throws:
      `UnsupportedVersionException` - When the target Gradle version does not support this version of the tooling API.
      `GradleConnectionException` - On failure to establish a connection with the target Gradle version.
    Since:
      1.0-milestone-3

  - ### disconnect

    public abstract void disconnect()
    Disconnects all ProjectConnection instances created by this connector.

    Calling this method tries to do a best effort to clean up resources used by the tooling API. It tries to cancel any builds and shut down running daemons.

    After calling `disconnect`, creating new project connections will be rejected and the existing ones created by this instance will also deny future build operations.

    Since:
      6.5