# Problem with checkstyle plugin **URL:** \ **Category:** Help/Discuss\ **Created:** [December 26, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453 "2015-12-26T19:11:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmonsalve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cmonsalve](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/cmonsalve)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453/1 "2015-12-26T19:11:28Z")
Hi, I am new with Gradle. I am having problems using the checkstyle plugin. I have tried both with Gradle 2.6 and with Gradle 2.7 I have followed the instructions, so I have included in my build.gradle file the following line: `apply plugin: 'checkstyle'` However, it does not work when i run the **check** task. What I get is the following failure: \> Execution failed for task ‘:checkstyleMain’. I am copying bellow part of the details of the failure: ``` org.gradle.api.tasks.TaskExecutionException: Execution failed for task ':checkstyleMain'. at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeActions(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:69) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.execute(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:46) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.PostExecutionAnalysisTaskExecuter.execute(PostExecutionAnalysisTaskExecuter.java:35) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter.execute(SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter.java:64) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ValidatingTaskExecuter.execute(ValidatingTaskExecuter.java:58) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipEmptySourceFilesTaskExecuter.execute(SkipEmptySourceFilesTaskExecuter.java:52) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipTaskWithNoActionsExecuter.execute(SkipTaskWithNoActionsExecuter.java:52) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipOnlyIfTaskExecuter.execute(SkipOnlyIfTaskExecuter.java:53) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter.execute(ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter.java:43) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:203) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:185) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor$TaskExecutorWorker.processTask(AbstractTaskPlanExecutor.java:62) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor$TaskExecutorWorker.run(AbstractTaskPlanExecutor.java:50) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskPlanExecutor.process(DefaultTaskPlanExecutor.java:25) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:110) at org.gradle.execution.SelectedTaskExecutionAction.execute(SelectedTaskExecutionAction.java:37) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:37) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.access$000(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:23) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter$1.proceed(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:43) at org.gradle.execution.DryRunBuildExecutionAction.execute(DryRunBuildExecutionAction.java:32) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:37) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:30) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$4.run(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:155) at org.gradle.internal.Factories$1.create(Factories.java:22) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:90) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:52) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuildStages(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:152) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.access$200(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:33) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$1.create(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:100) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$1.create(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:94) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:90) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:62) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuild(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:94) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.run(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:83) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter$DefaultBuildController.run(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:94) ``` ---
**Author:** ![etiennestuder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/gradle/user_avatar/discuss.gradle.org/etiennestuder/32/7153_2.png) [@etiennestuder](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/etiennestuder)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2015, 8:11am UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453/2 "2015-12-27T08:11:02Z")
I’m moving this to the proper forum since it has nothing to do with Buildship. ---
**Author:** ![Francois\_Guillot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/gradle/user_avatar/discuss.gradle.org/francois_guillot/32/8566_2.png) [@Francois\_Guillot](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/Francois_Guillot)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453/3 "2015-12-27T18:09:41Z")
Hi You must provide more details about your build, e.g. the checkstyle block inside your build.gradle And the exception you see is probably caused by another exception down the stacktrace. You should also add this real cause here. ---
**Author:** ![cmonsalve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cmonsalve](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/cmonsalve)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453/4 "2016-01-04T23:17:11Z")
Dear Fracois, I am following [The Checkstyle Plugin](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/checkstyle_plugin.html) Therefore, the only line I added to my build.gradle is: apply plugin: ‘checkstyle’ I am copying bellow the full stacktrace after running gradlew check --stacktrace Thanks gradlew check --stacktrace :compileJava UP-TO-DATE :processResources UP-TO-DATE :classes UP-TO-DATE :checkstyleMain FAILED FAILURE: Build failed with an exception. - What went wrong: Execution failed for task ‘:checkstyleMain’. > Unable to create a Checker: unable to find C:\Users\ESPOL\git\MiPrimeraCalculadoraGradle\config\checkstyle\checkstyle.xml - Try: Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output. - Exception is: org.gradle.api.tasks.TaskExecutionException: Execution failed for task ‘:checkstyleMain’. at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeActions(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:69) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.execute(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:46) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.PostExecutionAnalysisTaskExecuter.execute(PostExecutionAnalysisTaskExecuter.java:35) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter.execute(SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter.java:64) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ValidatingTaskExecuter.execute(ValidatingTaskExecuter.java:58) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipEmptySourceFilesTaskExecuter.execute(SkipEmptySourceFilesTaskExecuter.java:52) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipTaskWithNoActionsExecuter.execute(SkipTaskWithNoActionsExecuter.java:52) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipOnlyIfTaskExecuter.execute(SkipOnlyIfTaskExecuter.java:53) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter.execute(ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter.java:43) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:203) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:185) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor$TaskExecutorWorker.processTask(AbstractTaskPlanExecutor.java:62) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor$TaskExecutorWorker.run(AbstractTaskPlanExecutor.java:50) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskPlanExecutor.process(DefaultTaskPlanExecutor.java:25) at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:110) at org.gradle.execution.SelectedTaskExecutionAction.execute(SelectedTaskExecutionAction.java:37) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:37) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.access$000(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:23) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter$1.proceed(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:43) at org.gradle.execution.DryRunBuildExecutionAction.execute(DryRunBuildExecutionAction.java:32) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:37) at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:30) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$4.run(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:158) at org.gradle.internal.Factories$1.create(Factories.java:22) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:90) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:52) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuildStages(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:155) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.access$200(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:36) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$1.create(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:103) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$1.create(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:97) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:90) at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:62) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuild(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:97) at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.run(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:86) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter$DefaultBuildController.run(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:102) at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ExecuteBuildActionRunner.run(ExecuteBuildActionRunner.java:28) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.ChainingBuildActionRunner.run(ChainingBuildActionRunner.java:35) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter.execute(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:47) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter.execute(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:32) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.execute(ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.java:77) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.execute(ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.java:47) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.DaemonUsageSuggestingBuildActionExecuter.execute(DaemonUsageSuggestingBuildActionExecuter.java:51) at org.gradle.launcher.exec.DaemonUsageSuggestingBuildActionExecuter.execute(DaemonUsageSuggestingBuildActionExecuter.java:28) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.RunBuildAction.run(RunBuildAction.java:43) at org.gradle.internal.Actions$RunnableActionAdapter.execute(Actions.java:170) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.CommandLineActionFactory$ParseAndBuildAction.execute(CommandLineActionFactory.java:237) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.CommandLineActionFactory$ParseAndBuildAction.execute(CommandLineActionFactory.java:210) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.JavaRuntimeValidationAction.execute(JavaRuntimeValidationAction.java:35) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.JavaRuntimeValidationAction.execute(JavaRuntimeValidationAction.java:24) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.CommandLineActionFactory$WithLogging.execute(CommandLineActionFactory.java:206) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.CommandLineActionFactory$WithLogging.execute(CommandLineActionFactory.java:169) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.ExceptionReportingAction.execute(ExceptionReportingAction.java:33) at org.gradle.launcher.cli.ExceptionReportingAction.execute(ExceptionReportingAction.java:22) at org.gradle.launcher.Main.doAction(Main.java:33) at org.gradle.launcher.bootstrap.EntryPoint.run(EntryPoint.java:45) at org.gradle.launcher.bootstrap.ProcessBootstrap.runNoExit(ProcessBootstrap.java:54) at org.gradle.launcher.bootstrap.ProcessBootstrap.run(ProcessBootstrap.java:35) at org.gradle.launcher.GradleMain.main(GradleMain.java:23) at org.gradle.wrapper.BootstrapMainStarter.start(BootstrapMainStarter.java:30) at org.gradle.wrapper.WrapperExecutor.execute(WrapperExecutor.java:129) at org.gradle.wrapper.GradleWrapperMain.main(GradleWrapperMain.java:61) Caused by: : Unable to create a Checker: unable to find C:\Users\ESPOL\git\MiPrimeraCalculadoraGradle\config\checkstyle\checkstyle.xml at com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.CheckStyleTask.createChecker(CheckStyleTask.java:383) at com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.CheckStyleTask.realExecute(CheckStyleTask.java:300) at com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.CheckStyleTask.execute(CheckStyleTask.java:262) at org.apache.tools.ant.UnknownElement.execute(UnknownElement.java:292) at org.apache.tools.ant.dispatch.DispatchUtils.execute(DispatchUtils.java:106) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.ant.BasicAntBuilder.nodeCompleted(BasicAntBuilder.java:77) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.AntBuilderDelegate.nodeCompleted(DefaultIsolatedAntBuilder.groovy:177) at org.gradle.api.plugins.quality.Checkstyle$\_run\_closure1.doCall(Checkstyle.groovy:142) at org.gradle.api.internal.ClosureBackedAction.execute(ClosureBackedAction.java:67) at org.gradle.util.ConfigureUtil.configure(ConfigureUtil.java:130) at org.gradle.util.ConfigureUtil.configure(ConfigureUtil.java:91) at org.gradle.util.ConfigureUtil$configure.call(Unknown Source) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.DefaultIsolatedAntBuilder.execute(DefaultIsolatedAntBuilder.groovy:108) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.IsolatedAntBuilder$execute$0.call(Unknown Source) at org.gradle.api.plugins.quality.Checkstyle.run(Checkstyle.groovy:139) at org.gradle.internal.reflect.JavaMethod.invoke(JavaMethod.java:75) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.taskfactory.AnnotationProcessingTaskFactory$StandardTaskAction.doExecute(AnnotationProcessingTaskFactory.java:226) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.taskfactory.AnnotationProcessingTaskFactory$StandardTaskAction.execute(AnnotationProcessingTaskFactory.java:219) at org.gradle.api.internal.project.taskfactory.AnnotationProcessingTaskFactory$StandardTaskAction.execute(AnnotationProcessingTaskFactory.java:208) at org.gradle.api.internal.AbstractTask$TaskActionWrapper.execute(AbstractTask.java:585) at org.gradle.api.internal.AbstractTask$TaskActionWrapper.execute(AbstractTask.java:568) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeAction(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:80) at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeActions(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:61) … 60 more Caused by: com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.api.CheckstyleException: unable to find C:\Users\ESPOL\git\MiPrimeraCalculadoraGradle\config\checkstyle\checkstyle.xml at com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.ConfigurationLoader.loadConfiguration(ConfigurationLoader.java:342) at com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.CheckStyleTask.createChecker(CheckStyleTask.java:356) … 82 more Caused by: java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Users\ESPOL\git\MiPrimeraCalculadoraGradle\config\checkstyle\checkstyle.xml at com.puppycrawl.tools.checkstyle.ConfigurationLoader.loadConfiguration(ConfigurationLoader.java:328) … 83 more BUILD FAILED Total time: 4.021 secs ---
**Author:** ![jjustinic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/gradle/user_avatar/discuss.gradle.org/jjustinic/32/9005_2.png) [@jjustinic](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/jjustinic)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453/5 "2016-01-05T00:56:57Z")
The checkstyle plugin requires you to provide a config file which, by default, needs to be located in your project directory at config/checkstyle/checkstyle.xml. This is why the error message states that it is unable to find this file: > [@cmonsalve](#): > > Unable to create a Checker: unable to find C:\Users\ESPOL\git\MiPrimeraCalculadoraGradle\config\checkstyle\checkstyle.xml This requirement is noted in section [56.3. Project layout](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/checkstyle_plugin.html#N16685) of the checkstyle plugin documentation. Alternatively, you can specify a different location for the config file using the configFile or config (_incubating_) property of the `CheckstyleExtension` noted in section [56.5. Configuration] ([The Checkstyle Plugin](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/checkstyle_plugin.html#N166BD)). ---
**Author:** ![cmonsalve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@cmonsalve](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/cmonsalve)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/problem-with-checkstyle-plugin/13453/6 "2016-01-05T02:19:24Z")
Thanks James, that solved the problem.