Solving the Infamous “Error Build : A failure occurred while executing org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.internal.KaptWithoutKotlincTask$KaptExecutionWorkAction” Issue

Are you tired of seeing the dreaded “Error Build : A failure occurred while executing org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.internal.KaptWithoutKotlincTask$KaptExecutionWorkAction” error message pop up in your Android Studio project? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything to fix it, but nothing seems to work? Well, fear not, dear developer! This comprehensive guide is here to walk you through the most common causes and solutions to this frustrating issue.

What is KaptWithoutKotlincTask, and Why Does it Fail?

KaptWithoutKotlincTask is a Gradle task responsible for compiling and processing Kotlin files in your Android project. It’s an essential part of the build process, but sometimes it can fail, causing the entire build to come crashing down.

The error message “A failure occurred while executing org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.internal.KaptWithoutKotlincTask$KaptExecutionWorkAction” is often accompanied by a cryptic error message that doesn’t provide much insight into the actual problem. But don’t worry, we’ll dive into the common causes and provide actionable solutions to get your build back on track.

Cause 1: Outdated Gradle Version

One of the most common reasons for the KaptWithoutKotlincTask failure is an outdated Gradle version. If you’re using an older version of Gradle, it might not be compatible with the latest Kotlin compiler.

**Solution:** Update your Gradle version to the latest one. You can do this by navigating to your project’s `build.gradle` file and changing the following line:

dependencies {
    classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:4.1.0'
}

Replace the version number with the latest one, which can be found on the Android Developer website.

Cause 2: Kotlin Compiler Issues

Sometimes, the Kotlin compiler itself can cause the KaptWithoutKotlincTask to fail. This might be due to a bug in the compiler or an incompatible version.

**Solution:** Try updating your Kotlin compiler version to the latest one. You can do this by adding the following line to your `build.gradle` file:

kotlin {
    sourceSets {
        main.java.srcDirs += 'src/main/kotlin'
    }
    kotlinCompilerVersion = '1.5.31'
}

Make sure to replace the version number with the latest one, which can be found on the Kotlin website.

Cause 3: Incompatible Dependencies

Incompatible dependencies can also cause the KaptWithoutKotlincTask to fail. If you’re using a library or module that’s not compatible with your Kotlin version or Gradle version, it can cause issues.

**Solution:** Identify the incompatible dependency and either update it to a compatible version or exclude it from your project. You can use the Gradle dependencies task to identify the dependencies:

./gradlew dependencies

This will display a tree of all dependencies in your project. Look for any dependencies that might be causing issues and update or exclude them accordingly.

Cause 4: Annotation Processing Issues

Annotation processing is a crucial part of the Kotlin build process. If there’s an issue with annotation processing, it can cause the KaptWithoutKotlincTask to fail.

**Solution:** Try disabling annotation processing and see if the issue persists. You can do this by adding the following line to your `build.gradle` file:

kapt {
    useBuildCache = false
}

If disabling annotation processing solves the issue, you might need to investigate further to identify the root cause.

Cause 5: Corrupted Cache

Sometimes, a corrupted cache can cause the KaptWithoutKotlincTask to fail. This might happen if your cache becomes corrupted due to a sudden power outage or a crash.

**Solution:** Try deleting the cache and rebuilding your project. You can do this by navigating to the `.gradle` directory in your project’s root directory and deleting the `4.1.0` (or your Gradle version) folder.

Then, rebuild your project by running the following command:

./gradlew clean build

Cause 6: Incompatible Plugins

Incompatible plugins can also cause the KaptWithoutKotlincTask to fail. If you’re using a plugin that’s not compatible with your Kotlin version or Gradle version, it can cause issues.

**Solution:** Identify the incompatible plugin and either update it to a compatible version or exclude it from your project. You can use the Gradle plugins task to identify the plugins:

./gradlew plugins

This will display a list of all plugins in your project. Look for any plugins that might be causing issues and update or exclude them accordingly.

Troubleshooting Tips

If none of the above solutions work, here are some troubleshooting tips to help you identify the issue:

• Check the Gradle console output for any error messages that might indicate the root cause of the issue.
• Try cleaning and rebuilding your project using the `./gradlew clean build` command.
• Disable incremental build and see if the issue persists. You can do this by adding the following line to your `build.gradle` file:

compileKotlin {
    incremental = false
}

Try building your project on a different machine or environment to rule out any local configuration issues.

Search for similar issues on the internet or forums to see if others have encountered the same problem.

Conclusion

The “Error Build : A failure occurred while executing org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.internal.KaptWithoutKotlincTask$KaptExecutionWorkAction” issue can be frustrating, but it’s often caused by a simple misconfiguration or outdated dependency. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify and fix the issue. Remember to update your Gradle and Kotlin versions, check for incompatible dependencies, and troubleshoot the problem methodically.

Happy coding, and may your builds be error-free!

Cause	Solution
Outdated Gradle Version	Update Gradle version to the latest one
Kotlin Compiler Issues	Update Kotlin compiler version to the latest one
Incompatible Dependencies	Identify and update or exclude incompatible dependencies
Annotation Processing Issues	Disable annotation processing and investigate further
Corrupted Cache	Delete cache and rebuild project
Incompatible Plugins	Identify and update or exclude incompatible plugins

If you have any further questions or need more assistance, feel free to ask in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you stuck with the frustrating “Error Build : A failure occurred while executing org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.internal.KaptWithoutKotlincTask$KaptExecutionWorkAction” error? Worry not, dear developer! We’ve got you covered with these FAQs that’ll help you troubleshoot and fix the issue in no time!