# Gradle build .class files

**URL:** <https://discuss.gradle.org/t/gradle-build-class-files/18071>\
**Category:** Help/Discuss\
**Created:** [June 15, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/gradle-build-class-files/18071 "2016-06-15T19:09:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sheng-Long](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sheng-Long](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/Sheng-Long)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/gradle-build-class-files/18071/1 "2016-06-15T19:09:20Z")

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Completely new here, have set up paths.  
Trying to follow a spring tutorial at this address: [https://spring.io/guides/gs/gradle/](https://spring.io/guides/gs/gradle/)  
It asks me to create two files, Greeter.java and HelloWorld.java in a path …\src\main\java\hello  
So in the \hello directory I have 3 files Greeter.java, HelloWorld.java and build.gradle (which comprises of one line: "apply plugin: ‘java’ ").  
When I enter ‘gradle build’ into cmd at this directory’s location, a directory build is created in the directory but this directory does not include reports or classes. I assume this means it is not compiling the .java files I have created. Is there something that I’m doing wrong?

I realize that there are likely hundreds of posts like this, I’ve read a few and they haven’t helped.

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**Author:** ![sterling](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/gradle/user_avatar/discuss.gradle.org/sterling/32/5395_2.png) [@sterling](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/sterling)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/gradle-build-class-files/18071/2 "2016-06-15T19:15:52Z")

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Your `build.gradle` should go in the root directory of your project. See the completed example here: [https://github.com/spring-guides/gs-gradle/tree/master/complete](https://github.com/spring-guides/gs-gradle/tree/master/complete)

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**Author:** ![jlsilva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jlsilva](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/jlsilva)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/gradle-build-class-files/18071/3 "2019-11-18T19:11:14Z")

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Hi Sheng-Long,

Did you ever find out why the reports and classes subdirectories weren’t created? I’m new to gradle and having the same problem using the tutorial at [spring.io](http://spring.io).

Thanks,  
Jackie