Spring Boot 3.5.x / 4.x GraalVM with Gradle JVM Test Suite Plugin

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Summary

The issue at hand involves using Spring Boot 3.5.x and 4.x with GraalVM and the Gradle JVM Test Suite Plugin. When running gradlew clean nativeTest, some tests seem to work, but running gradlew clean nativeIntegrationTest results in exceptions being thrown. This is due to the GraalVM Gradle Plugin and its interaction with Testcontainers and Spring Boot.

Root Cause

The root cause of the issue is a combination of factors, including:

  • Class loading issues with Testcontainers and Spring Boot
  • Docker configuration file parsing errors caused by Testcontainers
  • GraalVM native image limitations and configuration issues
  • Incompatibilities between Spring Boot, Testcontainers, and GraalVM

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue occurs in real systems due to the complex interactions between Spring Boot, Testcontainers, GraalVM, and the Gradle JVM Test Suite Plugin. The use of native images and Docker adds additional layers of complexity, making it difficult to diagnose and resolve the issue. Some key factors contributing to this issue include:

  • Version incompatibilities between dependencies
  • Misconfigured Docker settings or environment variables
  • Insufficient configuration of the GraalVM Gradle Plugin

Real-World Impact

The real-world impact of this issue includes:

  • Failed tests and builds, resulting in delayed deployments and increased development time
  • Difficulty in debugging and troubleshooting due to the complex nature of the issue
  • Inability to utilize the benefits of GraalVM native images and Testcontainers in Spring Boot applications

Example or Code

// Example configuration for the GraalVM Gradle Plugin
graalvmNative {
    registerTestBinary("integrationTest") {
        usingSourceSet(sourceSets.getByName("integrationTest"))
        forTestTask(tasks.named("integrationTest"))
    }
}

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers can fix this issue by:

  • Carefully configuring the GraalVM Gradle Plugin and Testcontainers
  • Ensuring version compatibility between dependencies
  • Verifying Docker settings and environment variables
  • Utilizing debugging tools and logging to diagnose the issue
  • Applying workarounds or patches as needed to resolve the issue

Why Juniors Miss It

Junior engineers may miss this issue due to:

  • Lack of experience with GraalVM, Testcontainers, and Spring Boot
  • Insufficient understanding of native images and Docker
  • Overlooking configuration details or version incompatibilities
  • Difficulty in debugging and troubleshooting complex issues
  • Inadequate testing and validation of the application