# Configuration Cache Requirements for your Build Logic

version 9.8.0-20260812010846+0000

To capture and reload the task graph state using the Configuration Cache, Gradle enforces specific requirements on tasks and build logic.

Many violations of these requirements are detected and reported as Configuration Cache "problems," which cause the build to fail. However, not all violations can be detected automatically. Some (such as starting an external process at configuration time through a code path that bypasses Gradle’s bytecode instrumentation) are not reported, but will produce incorrect results on a cache hit because the value is not tracked as a configuration input.

In most cases, these requirements expose undeclared inputs, making builds more strict, correct, and reliable. Using the Configuration Cache is effectively an opt-in to these improvements.

The following sections describe each requirement and provide guidance on resolving issues in your build.

## Certain Types must not be Referenced by Tasks

Some types must not be referenced by task fields or in task actions (methods annotated `@TaskAction`, or the `doFirst {}` and `doLast {}` DSL blocks).

These types fall into the following categories:

- Live JVM state types

- Gradle model types

- Dependency management types

These restrictions exist because these types cannot easily be stored or reconstructed by the Configuration Cache.

### Live JVM State Types

Live JVM state types (e.g., `ClassLoader`, `Thread`, `OutputStream`, `Socket`) are disallowed, as they do not represent task inputs or outputs.

The only exceptions are standard streams (`System.in`, `System.out`, `System.err`), which can be used, for example, as parameters for `Exec` and `JavaExec` tasks.

#### Concurrency and Synchronization Primitives

Common synchronization primitives from the JDK must not be referenced by task fields or captured in task actions. These types represent live state that cannot be safely serialized.

Prohibited types include interfaces (and all their implementations, e.g. `ReentrantLock`) and classes from the `java.util.concurrent` and `java.util.concurrent.locks` packages, such as:

- `Lock`, `ReadWriteLock`

- `CountDownLatch`, `CyclicBarrier`, `Phaser`, `Semaphore`

- `Exchanger`, `SynchronousQueue`

Using these for cross-task synchronization will not work because the configuration cache isolates tasks: each task instance receives its own independent object, and no global synchronization occurs. The isolation also applies to objects used in `synchronized` blocks, so they cannot be used for cross-task synchronization either. Unlike the primitives above, Gradle cannot detect this case automatically.

To share or coordinate state between tasks, use shared build services.

### Classes from User-defined Modules

Types loaded into a user-defined `ModuleLayer` (for example, one created at runtime via `ModuleLayer.defineModulesWith*Loader(…​)`) must not be referenced by task state. The Configuration Cache ignores module information when saving and cannot restore such types properly, so they’re rejected at store time. This restriction only applies to build logic (including plugins and dependencies of plugins). Code built with Gradle isn’t affected.

Standard JDK types are unaffected: every module shipped with the JVM lives in the boot `ModuleLayer` and is fully supported, including types from non-`java.base` modules such as `java.desktop` (`java.awt.Color`, `javax.swing.*`) or `java.xml`. When the Gradle Java agent is enabled (the default), Gradle automatically opens the JDK packages it needs during serialization, so user code does not need to add `--add-opens` for them.

### Gradle Model Types

Gradle model types (e.g., `Gradle`, `Settings`, `Project`, `SourceSet`, `Configuration`) are often used to pass task inputs that should instead be explicitly declared.

For example, instead of referencing a Project to retrieve `project.version` at execution time, declare the project version as a `Property<String>` input. Similarly, instead of referencing a `SourceSet` for source files or classpath resolution, declare these as a `FileCollection` input.

### Dependency Management Types

The same requirement applies to dependency management types with some nuances.

Some dependency management types, such as `Configuration` and `SourceDirectorySet`, should not be used as task inputs because they contain unnecessary state and are not precise. Use a less specific type that gives necessary features instead:

- If referencing a `Configuration` to get resolved files, declare a `FileCollection` input.

- If referencing a `SourceDirectorySet`, declare a `FileTree` input.

Additionally, referencing resolved dependency results directly is disallowed (e.g., `ArtifactResolutionQuery`, `ResolvedArtifact`, `ArtifactResult`). Instead, use lazy providers that defer resolution:

- Use a `Provider<ResolvedComponentResult>` from `ResolutionResult.getRootComponent()` for dependency graph metadata.

- Alternatively, reference the `ResolutionResult` directly. It is Configuration Cache-compatible, so it can be wired into a task input property (for example, a `Property<ResolutionResult>`) and accessed via its full API at execution time.

- Use `ArtifactCollection.getResolvedArtifacts()`, which returns a `Provider<Set<ResolvedArtifactResult>>`, for artifact metadata and files.

| The `Provider` returned by `getResolvedArtifacts()` is Configuration Cache-compatible, but the `ResolvedArtifactResult` type itself is not serializable. You cannot wire the provider directly into a `SetProperty<ResolvedArtifactResult>` task property. Instead, use `Provider.map()` to extract the data you need (artifact identifiers, variant information, files) into serializable types, and wire those into your task’s input properties. See Resolving artifacts for a complete example of this pattern.

| There is a known edge case (gradle/gradle#27582) where `getResolvedArtifacts()` fails Configuration Cache serialization when the resolved configuration contains only external dependencies and no project dependencies. As a workaround, store the `ArtifactCollection` itself as a task field and call `getResolvedArtifacts()` at execution time.

Some types, such as `Publication` or `Dependency`, are not serializable but could be made so in the future. Gradle may allow them as task inputs if necessary.

The following task references a `SourceSet`, which is not allowed:

build.gradle.kts

    abstract class SomeTask : DefaultTask() {

        @get:Input lateinit var sourceSet: SourceSet (1)

        @TaskAction
        fun action() {
            val classpathFiles = sourceSet.compileClasspath.files
            // ...
        }
    }

build.gradle

    abstract class SomeTask extends DefaultTask {

        @Input SourceSet sourceSet (1)

        @TaskAction
        void action() {
            def classpathFiles = sourceSet.compileClasspath.files
            // ...
        }
    }

1 | This will be reported as a problem because referencing `SourceSet` is not allowed

The following is the fixed version:

build.gradle.kts

    abstract class SomeTask : DefaultTask() {

        @get:InputFiles @get:Classpath
        abstract val classpath: ConfigurableFileCollection (1)

        @TaskAction
        fun action() {
            val classpathFiles = classpath.files
            // ...
        }
    }

build.gradle

    abstract class SomeTask extends DefaultTask {

        @InputFiles @Classpath
        abstract ConfigurableFileCollection getClasspath() (1)

        @TaskAction
        void action() {
            def classpathFiles = classpath.files
            // ...
        }
    }

1 | No more problems reported, the task now uses the supported type `ConfigurableFileCollection`

If an ad-hoc task in a script captures a disallowed reference in a `doLast {}` closure:

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("someTask") {
        doLast {
            val classpathFiles = sourceSets.main.get().compileClasspath.files (1)
        }
    }

build.gradle

    tasks.register('someTask') {
        doLast {
            def classpathFiles = sourceSets.main.compileClasspath.files (1)
        }
    }

1 | This will be reported as a problem because the `doLast {}` closure is capturing a reference to the `SourceSet`

You still need to fulfill the same requirement, that is, do not reference the disallowed type during task execution.

This is how the task declaration above can be fixed:

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("someTask") {
        val classpath = sourceSets.main.get().compileClasspath (1)
        doLast {
            val classpathFiles = classpath.files
        }
    }

build.gradle

    tasks.register('someTask') {
        def classpath = sourceSets.main.compileClasspath (1)
        doLast {
            def classpathFiles = classpath.files
        }
    }

1 | No more problems reported, the `doLast {}` closure now only captures `classpath` which is of the supported `FileCollection` type

Sometimes, a disallowed type is indirectly referenced through another type. For example, a task may reference an allowed type that, in turn, references a disallowed type. The hierarchical view in the HTML problem report can help you trace such issues and identify the offending reference.

## Custom Collection and Map Types

The Configuration Cache serializes a fixed set of standard collection, set, map, and queue implementations directly:

- `List`: `ArrayList`, `LinkedList`, `CopyOnWriteArrayList`

- `Set`: `HashSet`, `LinkedHashSet`, `TreeSet`, `CopyOnWriteArraySet`

- `Map`: `HashMap`, `LinkedHashMap`, `TreeMap`, `ConcurrentHashMap`, `Properties`, `Hashtable`

- `Queue`: `ArrayDeque`

These types, and Guava’s immutable collections (`ImmutableList`, `ImmutableSet`, `ImmutableMap`), are stored and restored faithfully.

A custom subtype of one of the standard types above (for example, `class MyList extends ArrayList<String> {}`) cannot be restored as its own type: it is restored as the nearest standard type instead. Any state or behavior added by the custom type — extra fields, overridden methods — is lost.

Referencing a custom collection or map subtype from task fields or task actions is deprecated and will become an error in Gradle 10. Use a standard collection type (for example, a plain `ArrayList` or `LinkedHashMap`) and hold any extra data in separate, explicitly serialized fields.

## Using the `Project` Object at Execution Time

Tasks must not use any `Project` objects during execution. This includes calling `Task.getProject()` while a task is running.

Some cases can be resolved similarly to those described in disallowed types.

Often, equivalent functionality is available on both `Project` and `Task`. For example:

- If you need a `Logger`, use `Task.logger` instead of `Project.logger`.

- For file operations, use injected services rather than `Project` methods.

The following task incorrectly references the `Project` object at execution time:

build.gradle.kts

    abstract class SomeTask : DefaultTask() {
        @TaskAction
        fun action() {
            project.copy { (1)
                from("source")
                into("destination")
            }
        }
    }

build.gradle

    abstract class SomeTask extends DefaultTask {
        @TaskAction
        void action() {
            project.copy { (1)
                from 'source'
                into 'destination'
            }
        }
    }

1 | This will be reported as a problem because the task action is using the `Project` object at execution time

Fixed version:

build.gradle.kts

    abstract class SomeTask : DefaultTask() {

        @get:Inject abstract val fs: FileSystemOperations (1)

        @TaskAction
        fun action() {
            fs.copy {
                from("source")
                into("destination")
            }
        }
    }

build.gradle

    abstract class SomeTask extends DefaultTask {

        @Inject abstract FileSystemOperations getFs() (1)

        @TaskAction
        void action() {
            fs.copy {
                from 'source'
                into 'destination'
            }
        }
    }

1 | No more problem reported, the injected `FileSystemOperations` service is supported as a replacement for `project.copy {}`

If the same problem occurs in an ad-hoc task in a script:

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("someTask") {
        doLast {
            project.copy { (1)
                from("source")
                into("destination")
            }
        }
    }

build.gradle

    tasks.register('someTask') {
        doLast {
            project.copy { (1)
                from 'source'
                into 'destination'
            }
        }
    }

1 | This will be reported as a problem because the task action is using the `Project` object at execution time

Fixed version:

build.gradle.kts

    interface Injected {
        @get:Inject val fs: FileSystemOperations (1)
    }
    tasks.register("someTask") {
        val injected = project.objects.newInstance<Injected>() (2)
        doLast {
            injected.fs.copy { (3)
                from("source")
                into("destination")
            }
        }
    }

build.gradle

    interface Injected {
        @Inject FileSystemOperations getFs() (1)
    }
    tasks.register('someTask') {
        def injected = project.objects.newInstance(Injected) (2)
        doLast {
            injected.fs.copy { (3)
                from 'source'
                into 'destination'
            }
        }
    }

1 | Services can’t be injected directly in scripts, we need an extra type to convey the injection point
2 | Create an instance of the extra type using `project.object` outside the task action
3 | No more problem reported, the task action references `injected` that provides the `FileSystemOperations` service, supported as a replacement for `project.copy {}`

Fixing ad-hoc tasks in scripts requires additional effort, making it a good opportunity to refactor them into proper task classes.

| Ad-hoc tasks and scripts can also obtain these services directly with the `service(…​)` lookup, avoiding the extra injected type shown above.

The table below lists recommended replacements for commonly used `Project` methods:

Instead of: | Use:
--- | ---
`project.rootDir` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.rootDir` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.projectDir` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.projectDir` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.buildDir` | `project.buildDir` has been deprecated. You should use `project.layout.buildDirectory`. Use a task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.layout.buildDirectory` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.name` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.name` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.description` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.description` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.group` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.group` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.version` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.version` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.properties`, `project.property(name)`, `project.hasProperty(name)`, `project.getProperty(name)` or `project.findProperty(name)` | Value providers for Gradle properties.
`project.logger` | Task.logger
`project.provider {}` | ProviderFactory.provider {}
`project.file(path)` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.file(file)` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.uri(path)` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.uri(path)` to calculate the actual parameter. Otherwise, `File.toURI()` or some other JVM API can be used.
`project.relativePath(path)` | ProjectLayout.projectDirectory.file(path)
`project.files(paths)` | ObjectFactory.fileCollection().from(paths)
`project.fileTree(paths)` | ObjectFactory.fileTree().from(dir)
`project.zipTree(path)` | ArchiveOperations.zipTree(path)
`project.tarTree(path)` | ArchiveOperations.tarTree(path)
`project.resources` | A task input or output property or a script variable to capture the result of using `project.resource` to calculate the actual parameter.
`project.copySpec {}` | FileSystemOperations.copySpec {}
`project.copy {}` | FileSystemOperations.copy {}
`project.sync {}` | FileSystemOperations.sync {}
`project.delete {}` | FileSystemOperations.delete {}
`project.mkdir(path)` | The Kotlin, Groovy or Java API available to your build logic.
`project.exec {}` | ExecOperations.exec {}
`project.javaexec {}` | ExecOperations.javaexec {}
`project.ant {}` | Task.ant
`project.createAntBuilder()` | Task.ant

## Reducing Captured References in Ad-Hoc Tasks

When using ad-hoc tasks in build scripts, task actions (such as `doLast {}`) can inadvertently capture references to the enclosing build script scope. The Configuration Cache must serialize these captured references, and project-level objects are not serializable.

### Implicit project property capture

Referencing a project property like `version` inside a task action causes the action to capture the project object at execution time. This applies to both Groovy and Kotlin DSL scripts. To fix this, assign the project property to a local variable inside the task configuration block:

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("checkVersion") {
        doLast {
            println(version) (1)
        }
    }

1 | References `version` inside `doLast`, causing the action to capture the project scope.

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("printVersion") {
        val projectVersion = version (1)
        doLast {
            println(projectVersion) (2)
        }
    }

1 | Assigns the project property to a local variable at configuration time.
2 | The action now captures only the local variable, not the project.

### Script-level variable capture (Kotlin DSL)

In Kotlin DSL scripts, top-level `val` and `var` declarations are compiled as properties of the build script class. Referencing them inside a `doLast {}` lambda causes the lambda to capture the build script object, which is not serializable:

build.gradle.kts

    val outputFile = layout.buildDirectory.file("output.txt")

    tasks.register("produce") {
        outputs.file(outputFile)
        doLast {
            outputFile.get().asFile.writeText("Hello") (1)
        }
    }

1 | References the script-level `outputFile`, causing the action to capture the build script object.

To fix this, shadow the script-level property with a local variable inside the task configuration block:

build.gradle.kts

    val reportFile = layout.buildDirectory.file("report.txt")

    tasks.register("report") {
        val reportFile = reportFile (1)
        outputs.file(reportFile)
        doLast {
            reportFile.get().asFile.writeText("Hello") (2)
        }
    }

1 | Shadows the script-level property with a local variable (`val reportFile = reportFile`).
2 | The action now captures only the local variable, not the build script object.

### Type widening (Kotlin DSL)

Even after extracting a value into a local variable, Kotlin’s type inference may preserve a type that carries a project reference. For example, `configurations.runtimeClasspath` returns a `NamedDomainObjectProvider<Configuration>`, which holds a reference to the project’s configuration container. Declaring an explicit, wider type drops this reference:

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("resolveClasspath") {
        val runtimeClasspath = configurations.runtimeClasspath (1)
        doLast {
            println(runtimeClasspath.get().files)
        }
    }

1 | The inferred type is `NamedDomainObjectProvider<Configuration>`, which carries a project reference.

build.gradle.kts

    tasks.register("resolveClasspathSafe") {
        val runtimeClasspath: Provider<out FileCollection> = configurations.runtimeClasspath (1)
        doLast {
            println(runtimeClasspath.get().files)
        }
    }

1 | The explicit `Provider` type, dropping both the container reference and the unsupported `Configuration` type, allows the Configuration Cache to simplify the internal representation and ignore the unsupported state.

| These techniques apply whenever an ad-hoc task action references a value defined at the script level. For task classes (extending `DefaultTask`), use declared properties (e.g., `@Input`, `@OutputFile`) instead—the Configuration Cache serializes task properties directly.

## Accessing a Task Instance from Another Instance

Tasks must not directly access the state of another task instance. Instead, they should be connected using input and output relationships.

This requirement ensures that tasks remain isolated and correctly cacheable. As a result, it is unsupported to write tasks that configure other tasks at execution time.

## Sharing Mutable Objects

When storing a task in the Configuration Cache, all objects referenced through the task’s fields are serialized.

In most cases, deserialization preserves reference equality—if two fields `a` and `b` reference the same instance at configuration time, they will still reference the same instance after deserialization (`a == b`, or `a === b` in Groovy/Kotlin syntax).

However, for performance reasons, certain classes—such as `java.lang.String`, `java.io.File`, and many `java.util.Collection` implementations—are serialized without preserving reference equality. After deserialization, fields that referred to these objects may reference different but equal instances.

Consider a task that stores a user-defined object and an `ArrayList` as task fields:

build.gradle.kts

    class StateObject {
        // ...we assume there is some mutable state here, and an equals implementation...
    }

    abstract class StatefulTask : DefaultTask() {
        @get:Internal
        var stateObject: StateObject? = null

        @get:Internal
        var strings: List<String>? = null
    }

    tasks.register<StatefulTask>("checkEquality") {
        val objectValue = StateObject()
        // ...configure objectValue as needed...
        val stringsValue = arrayListOf("a", "b")

        stateObject = objectValue
        strings = stringsValue

        doLast { (1)
            println("POJO reference equality: ${stateObject === objectValue}") (2)
            println("Collection reference equality: ${strings === stringsValue}") (3)
            println("Collection equality: ${strings == stringsValue}") (4)
        }
    }

build.gradle

    class StateObject {
        // ...we assume there is some mutable state here, and an equals implementation...
    }

    abstract class StatefulTask extends DefaultTask {
        @Internal
        StateObject stateObject

        @Internal
        List<String> strings
    }

    tasks.register("checkEquality", StatefulTask) {
        def objectValue = new StateObject()
        // ...configure objectValue as needed...
        def stringsValue = ["a", "b"] as ArrayList<String>

        stateObject = objectValue
        strings = stringsValue

        doLast { (1)
            println("POJO reference equality: ${stateObject === objectValue}") (2)
            println("Collection reference equality: ${strings === stringsValue}") (3)
            println("Collection equality: ${strings == stringsValue}") (4)
        }
    }

1 | `doLast` action captures the references from the enclosing scope. These captured references are also serialized to the Configuration Cache.
2 | Compare the reference to an object of user-defined class stored in the task field and the reference captured in the `doLast` action.
3 | Compare the reference to `ArrayList` instance stored in the task field and the reference captured in the `doLast` action.
4 | Check the equality of stored and captured lists.

Without Configuration Cache, reference equality is preserved in both cases:

    $ ./gradlew --no-configuration-cache checkEquality

    > Task :checkEquality
    POJO reference equality: true
    Collection reference equality: true
    Collection equality: true

With Configuration Cache enabled, only user-defined object references remain identical. List references are different, although the lists themselves remain equal:

    $ ./gradlew --configuration-cache checkEquality

    > Task :checkEquality
    POJO reference equality: true
    Collection reference equality: false
    Collection equality: true

Best Practices:

- Avoid sharing mutable objects between configuration and execution phases.

- If sharing state is necessary, wrap it in a user-defined class.

- Do not rely on reference equality for standard Java, Groovy, Kotlin, or Gradle-defined types.

Reference equality is never preserved between tasks—each task is an isolated "realm." To share objects across tasks, use a Build Service to wrap the shared state.

## Accessing Task Extensions or Conventions

Tasks must not access conventions, extensions, or extra properties at execution time.

Instead, any value relevant to task execution should be explicitly modeled as a task property to ensure proper caching and reproducibility.

## Using Build Listeners

Plugins and build scripts must not register build listeners that are created at configuration time and triggered at execution time. This includes listeners such as `BuildListener` or `TaskExecutionListener`.

Recommended Alternatives:

- Use Build Services to handle execution-time logic.

- Register a Build Service to receive task execution notifications.

- Replace `buildFinished` listeners with dataflow actions to manage build results.

## Using Build Services

Build Services are the Gradle-supported way to share state across tasks, replace `BuildListener`-style hooks, and observe task execution events. They are also the most common feature-level integration point with the Configuration Cache, and a few caveats apply.

Parameter values are part of the cache entry. The parameters interface of a build service is a custom Gradle type, and its property values are serialized into the Configuration Cache entry alongside the rest of the build’s configured state. Parameter property types must be Configuration Cache-compatible. Standard managed property types (`Property<T>`, `RegularFileProperty`, `ListProperty<T>`, and so on) are supported containers, but the value type `T` must also be serializable by the Configuration Cache. For example, `Property<String>` is safe, but `Property<Thread>` is not. Raw `Configuration` references, live JVM state, and `Project` references are not supported as parameter values.

The service lifecycle differs under the Configuration Cache. Only the parameters are cached — service instances are not. With the Configuration Cache enabled, build services follow this lifecycle:

1. End of the configuration phase: all build services that were created at configuration time (by calling `get()` on their provider) are destroyed. The one exception is a service registered as an `OperationCompletionListener` and created at configuration time — the same instance is reused during the execution phase of that build.

2. Execution time: services are created upon first use. This includes re-creating services that were destroyed in step 1. As a consequence, a build service may be created and destroyed twice in a single build.

3. Cache hit (no configuration phase): all services are created from scratch upon first use. Registered `OperationCompletionListener` services are created upon the first event if nothing triggers them earlier.

A `BuildServiceProvider` cannot drive a `ValueSource` at configuration time. Passing a provider of a `BuildService` (or anything derived from it via `map` or `flatMap`) as a `ValueSourceParameters` value that is read at configuration time is not supported.

If you do not need the service-derived value at configuration time, use `@ServiceReference` for direct injection or store the build service reference in an `@Internal`-annotated property on a task instead.

Sometimes you may want to use a `BuildService` to derive a parameter for a `ValueSource`, like this:

    val serviceProvider = gradle.sharedServices.registerIfAbsent("myService", MyService::class) { /* ... */ }

    val valueSource = providers.of(MyValueSource::class) {
        parameters {
            // Doesn't work when valueSource.get() is called at configuration time
            input = serviceProvider.map { it.getValueFromService() }
        }
    }

This is only supported by the Configuration Cache if the resulting `ValueSource` isn’t used at configuration time. If you need the `ValueSource’s value at configuration time, you have to tell the Configuration Cache to use the computed input value for fingerprinting by wrapping the eager computation in a `provider {}` block:

    val serviceProvider = gradle.sharedServices.registerIfAbsent("myService", MyService::class) { /* ... */ }

    val valueSource = providers.of(MyValueSource::class) {
        parameters {
            input = provider { serviceProvider.get().getValueFromService() }
        }
    }

| With this workaround, the entire computation of `getValueFromService()` contributes to configuration inputs rather than being lazily evaluated when checking the fingerprint. The cache is invalidated whenever the computation’s result changes, not just when the `ValueSource` result changes. This approach also does not work when the computed value is transient and changes between builds (for example, a publishing URL).

See the related not-yet-implemented entry for the current state.

Register as `OperationCompletionListener` to observe task execution. A build service that implements `OperationCompletionListener` and is registered via `BuildEventsListenerRegistry.onTaskCompletion` is the supported way to observe task execution under the Configuration Cache. If the service was created at configuration time, the same instance is reused during the execution phase of that build. On a cache hit, when no configuration phase runs, the service is created from scratch upon the first event.

## Using External Information Sources

Examples of external sources include client environment variables, system properties, configuration files, shell commands, network services, among others. To represent such sources in a Gradle build in a Configuration Cache friendly way we use `ValueSource`. They make it possible for Gradle to transparently manage the Configuration Cache as values obtained from those sources change. For example, a build might run a different set of tasks depending on whether the `CI` environment variable is set or not.

A `ValueSource` implementation is exempt from the automatic detection of configuration cache inputs. For example, if the `obtain()` method reads a system property, an environment variable, or a file, those reads do not individually become configuration cache inputs. Instead, only the value returned by `obtain()` is tracked. If that value changes between builds, the Configuration Cache is invalidated.

This makes `ValueSource` the recommended escape hatch when built-in providers like `providers.systemProperty()`, `providers.environmentVariable()`, or `providers.fileContents()` are too limited for your use case.

### Creating a `ValueSource`

To integrate a new type of value source:

1. Create an abstract class implementing `ValueSource<T, P>`.

2. Implement the `obtain()` method to compute and return the value. The returned value must be effectively immutable (e.g., a `string`, `int`, `boolean`, an unmodifiable collection, or a serializable data class).

3. Use `providers.of(Class, Action)` to get a `Provider` backed by your source.

The returned `Provider` can be passed to task properties or queried during the configuration phase. If the value is queried at configuration time, the source is automatically considered a build configuration input.

| Do not implement `getParameters()` in your class—Gradle provides the implementation automatically.

| Your `ValueSource` implementation does not need to be thread-safe, Gradle synchronizes calls to `obtain()`.

### Parameterizing a `ValueSource`

A value source implementation will most likely take parameters. To do this, create a subtype of `ValueSourceParameters` and declare it as the type parameter `P` of your `ValueSource` implementation. The parameters are configured in the `Action` passed to `providers.of()`. If no parameters are needed, use `ValueSourceParameters.None`.

### Injecting Services

Gradle services can be injected into a `ValueSource` implementation by adding a parameter to the constructor and annotating it with `@Inject`. Currently, the following service is supported:

- `ExecOperations` — provides means to execute external processes. This service can be used even at configuration time. Because `obtain()` is called on every build (see Configuration Cache Behavior below), only fast-running commands should be used.

You can also use standard Java/Kotlin/Groovy process APIs such as `java.lang.ProcessBuilder` inside `obtain()`.

### Configuration Cache Behavior

When a provider backed by a `ValueSource` is queried at configuration time, the value becomes a build configuration input. The `obtain()` method is then executed on every subsequent build to determine whether the Configuration Cache entry is still `UP-TO-DATE`:

- If the value has not changed, the cached configuration is reused.

- If the value has changed, the cache is invalidated and the configuration phase runs again.

Because `obtain()` runs on every build, it is recommended to keep the implementation fast.

`ValueSource` is the recommended approach for the following scenarios:

- Running external processes at configuration time — such as calling git or a CLI tool to compute a version string or check a precondition.

- Complex system property or environment variable access patterns — when you need to combine, transform, or conditionally read multiple properties.

- Reading files at configuration time — when `providers.fileContents()` is insufficient, such as parsing a file in a custom format.

## Running External Processes

| Plugin and build scripts should avoid running external processes at configuration time.

You must not use these APIs directly for running processes during configuration:

- Java/Kotlin: `ProcessBuilder`, `Runtime.exec(…​)`, etc…​

- Groovy: `*.execute()`, etc…​

- Gradle: `ExecOperations.exec`, `ExecOperations.javaexec`, etc…​

The flexibility of these methods prevents Gradle from determining how the calls impact the build configuration, making it difficult to ensure that the Configuration Cache entry can be safely reused. Therefore, Gradle reports a Configuration Cache problem when it detects such an invocation. Even when the Configuration Cache is disabled, calling these methods at configuration time still emits a deprecation warning and will become an error in a future Gradle version.

If running processes is required at configuration time, you can use the configuration-cache-compatible APIs detailed below.

For simpler cases, when grabbing the output of the process is enough, `providers.exec()` and `providers.javaexec()` can be used:

build.gradle.kts

    val gitVersion = providers.exec {
        commandLine("git", "--version")
    }.standardOutput.asText.get()

build.gradle

    def gitVersion = providers.exec {
        commandLine("git", "--version")
    }.standardOutput.asText.get()

For more complex cases, a custom `ValueSource` implementation with injected `ExecOperations` can be used (see Using External Information Sources for a full overview of `ValueSource`). This `ExecOperations` instance can be used at configuration time without restrictions:

build.gradle.kts

    abstract class GitVersionValueSource : ValueSource<String, ValueSourceParameters.None> {
        @get:Inject
        abstract val execOperations: ExecOperations

        override fun obtain(): String {
            val output = ByteArrayOutputStream()
            execOperations.exec {
                commandLine("git", "--version")
                standardOutput = output
            }
            return String(output.toByteArray(), Charset.defaultCharset())
        }
    }

build.gradle

    abstract class GitVersionValueSource implements ValueSource<String, ValueSourceParameters.None> {
        @Inject
        abstract ExecOperations getExecOperations()

        String obtain() {
            ByteArrayOutputStream output = new ByteArrayOutputStream()
            execOperations.exec {
                it.commandLine "git", "--version"
                it.standardOutput = output
            }
            return new String(output.toByteArray(), Charset.defaultCharset())
        }
    }

You can also use standard Java/Kotlin/Groovy process APIs like `java.lang.ProcessBuilder` in the `ValueSource`.

The `ValueSource` implementation can then be used to create a provider with `providers.of`:

build.gradle.kts

    val gitVersionProvider = providers.of(GitVersionValueSource::class) {}
    val gitVersion = gitVersionProvider.get()

build.gradle

    def gitVersionProvider = providers.of(GitVersionValueSource.class) {}
    def gitVersion = gitVersionProvider.get()

In both approaches, if the value of the provider is used at configuration time then it will become a build configuration input. The external process will be executed for every build to determine if the Configuration Cache is `UP-TO-DATE`, so it is recommended to only call fast-running processes at configuration time. If the value changes then the cache is invalidated and the process will be run again during this build as part of the configuration phase.

## Reading System Properties and Environment Variables

Plugins and build scripts may read system properties and environment variables directly at configuration time with standard Java, Groovy, or Kotlin APIs or with the value supplier APIs. Doing so makes such variables or properties a build configuration input. Therefore, changing their value invalidates the Configuration Cache.

The Configuration Cache report includes a list of these build configuration inputs to help track them.

In general, you should avoid reading the value of system properties and environment variables at configuration time to avoid cache misses when these values change. Instead, you can connect the `Provider` returned by `providers.systemProperty()` or `providers.environmentVariable()` to task properties.

Some access patterns that potentially enumerate all environment variables or system properties (for example, calling `System.getenv().forEach()` or using the iterator of its `keySet()`) are discouraged. In this case, Gradle cannot find out what properties are actual build configuration inputs, so every available property becomes one. Even adding a new property will invalidate the cache if this pattern is used.

Using a custom predicate to filter environment variables is an example of this discouraged pattern:

build.gradle.kts

    val jdkLocations = System.getenv().filterKeys {
        it.startsWith("JDK_")
    }

build.gradle

    def jdkLocations = System.getenv().findAll {
        key, _ -> key.startsWith("JDK_")
    }

The logic in the predicate is opaque to the Configuration Cache, so all environment variables are considered inputs. One way to reduce the number of inputs is to always use methods that query a concrete variable name, such as `getenv(String)`, or `getenv().get()`:

build.gradle.kts

    val jdkVariables = listOf("JDK_8", "JDK_11", "JDK_17")
    val jdkLocations = jdkVariables.filter { v ->
        System.getenv(v) != null
    }.associate { v ->
        v to System.getenv(v)
    }

build.gradle

    def jdkVariables = ["JDK_8", "JDK_11", "JDK_17"]
    def jdkLocations = jdkVariables.findAll { v ->
        System.getenv(v) != null
    }.collectEntries { v ->
        [v, System.getenv(v)]
    }

The fixed code above, however, is not exactly equivalent to the original as only an explicit list of variables is supported. Prefix-based filtering is a common scenario, so there are provider-based APIs to access system properties and environment variables:

build.gradle.kts

    val jdkLocationsProvider = providers.environmentVariablesPrefixedBy("JDK_")

build.gradle

    def jdkLocationsProvider = providers.environmentVariablesPrefixedBy("JDK_")

Note that the Configuration Cache would be invalidated not only when the value of the variable changes or the variable is removed but also when another variable with the matching prefix is added to the environment.

For more complex use cases, a custom `ValueSource` implementation can be used (see Using External Information Sources for a full overview of `ValueSource`). System properties and environment variables referenced in the code of the `ValueSource` do not become build configuration inputs, so any processing can be applied. Instead, the value of the `ValueSource` is recomputed each time the build runs and only if the value changes the Configuration Cache is invalidated. For example, a `ValueSource` can be used to get all environment variables with names containing the substring `JDK`:

build.gradle.kts

    abstract class EnvVarsWithSubstringValueSource : ValueSource<Map<String, String>, EnvVarsWithSubstringValueSource.Parameters> {
        interface Parameters : ValueSourceParameters {
            val substring: Property<String>
        }

        override fun obtain(): Map<String, String> {
            return System.getenv().filterKeys { key ->
                key.contains(parameters.substring.get())
            }
        }
    }
    val jdkLocationsProvider = providers.of(EnvVarsWithSubstringValueSource::class) {
        parameters {
            substring = "JDK"
        }
    }

build.gradle

    abstract class EnvVarsWithSubstringValueSource implements ValueSource<Map<String, String>, Parameters> {
        interface Parameters extends ValueSourceParameters {
            Property<String> getSubstring()
        }

        Map<String, String> obtain() {
            return System.getenv().findAll { key, _ ->
                key.contains(parameters.substring.get())
            }
        }
    }
    def jdkLocationsProvider = providers.of(EnvVarsWithSubstringValueSource.class) {
        parameters {
            substring = "JDK"
        }
    }

## Undeclared Reading of Files

Plugins and build scripts should not read files directly using the Java, Groovy or Kotlin APIs at configuration time. Instead, declare files as potential build configuration inputs using the value supplier APIs.

This problem is caused by build logic similar to this:

build.gradle.kts

    val config = file("some.conf").readText()

build.gradle

    def config = file('some.conf').text

To fix this problem, read files using `providers.fileContents()` instead:

build.gradle.kts

    val config = providers.fileContents(layout.projectDirectory.file("some.conf"))
        .asText

build.gradle

    def config = providers.fileContents(layout.projectDirectory.file('some.conf'))
        .asText

In general, you should avoid reading files at configuration time, to avoid invalidating Configuration Cache entries when the file content changes. Instead, you can connect the `Provider` returned by `providers.fileContents()` to task properties.

## Bytecode Modifications and Java Agent

To detect the configuration inputs, Gradle modifies the bytecode of classes on the build script classpath, like plugins and their dependencies. Gradle uses a Java agent to modify the bytecode. Integrity self-checks of some libraries may fail because of the changed bytecode or the agent’s presence.

To work around this, you can use the Worker API with classloader or process isolation to encapsulate the library code. The bytecode of the worker’s classpath is not modified, so the self-checks should pass. When process isolation is used, the worker action is executed in a separate worker process that doesn’t have the Gradle Java agent installed.

In simple cases, when the libraries also provide command-line entry points (`public static void main()` method), you can also use the `JavaExec` task to isolate the library.

## Handling of Credentials and Secrets

The Configuration Cache serializes all non-transient fields reachable from scheduled tasks into the cache entry, which is stored under `.gradle/configuration-cache` in the project directory. Sensitive values such as credentials, tokens, and API keys that are held in task state will be included in the entry.

While Java’s `transient` keyword can exclude individual fields from serialization, there is no Gradle-level API to selectively mark a property as "do not cache." See Selective Exclusion of Sensitive Values for the current status.

To mitigate the risk of accidental exposure, Gradle encrypts the Configuration Cache. When required, Gradle transparently generates a machine-specific secret key, caches it under the `GRADLE_USER_HOME` directory, and uses it to encrypt data in the project-specific caches.

To further enhance security, follow these recommendations:

- Store credentials in `GRADLE_USER_HOME/gradle.properties`. The content of this file is not included in the Configuration Cache — only its fingerprint is. If storing secrets in this file, ensure access is properly restricted.

- Use the Gradle credentials API for repository authentication, so that credential values are looked up from Gradle properties rather than hardcoded in build scripts.

- Use lazy wiring like `providers.environmentVariable()` to feed sensitive data to tasks and only obtain the values at execution time, keeping them out of the serialized task graph.

- Mark fields holding runtime secrets as `transient` if the value is not needed after deserialization.

- Restrict access to the `.gradle/configuration-cache` directory and the encryption key in `GRADLE_USER_HOME`.

For an overview, see Security Considerations. See also gradle/gradle#3972.

### Providing an Encryption Key with the `GRADLE_ENCRYPTION_KEY` Environment Variable

By default, Gradle automatically generates and manages the encryption key as a Java keystore, stored under the `GRADLE_USER_HOME` directory.

For environments where this behavior is undesirable—such as when the `GRADLE_USER_HOME` directory is shared across multiple machines—you can explicitly provide an encryption key using the `GRADLE_ENCRYPTION_KEY` environment variable.

| The same encryption key must be consistently provided across multiple Gradle runs; otherwise, Gradle will be unable to reuse existing cached configurations.

### Generating an Encryption Key compatible with `GRADLE_ENCRYPTION_KEY`

To encrypt the Configuration Cache using a user-specified encryption key, Gradle requires the `GRADLE_ENCRYPTION_KEY` environment variable to be set with a valid AES key, encoded as a Base64 string.

You can generate a Base64-encoded AES-compatible key using the following command:

    $ openssl rand -base64 16

This command works on Linux and macOS, and on Windows if using a tool like Cygwin.

Once generated, set the Base64-encoded key as the value of the `GRADLE_ENCRYPTION_KEY` environment variable:

    $ export GRADLE_ENCRYPTION_KEY="your-generated-key-here"

## Third-party Java Agents with the Configuration Cache

The Configuration Cache supports third-party `-javaagent:` attachments to the build JVM (for example a coverage agent such as Jacoco, IntelliJ’s `idea_rt.jar`, or a custom user agent) in regular daemon builds and in TestKit's default (daemon) mode.

Only agents attached at JVM startup are supported. Agents attached dynamically via the Attach API after the JVM has started are not detected and may cause incorrect bytecode observation on classes loaded after attachment.

It is not supported when TestKit runs in embedded mode (`withDebug(true)`). To use a third-party Java agent with the Configuration Cache from there, drop `withDebug(true)` and let TestKit use its daemon default.

To debug the daemon TestKit spawns with the Configuration Cache enabled:

- Do not use `withDebug(true)`.

- Pass `-Dorg.gradle.debug=true` to the build under test (see debugging options).

- Attach the debugger manually.