After Upgrade to Android Studio 2.3 : transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolFor<build flavor> fails

Question

I've just upgraded to Android Studio 2.3, which requires all build.gradle's use a minimum buildToolsVersion of 25.0.0

the following settings were applied: buildToolsVersion "25.0.2" in all of the build.gradle's in my project targetSdkVersion 25 compile 'com.android.support:support-annotations:25.3.0' compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:25.3.0'

I now am receiving the following error from gradle: as a result of gradlew assembleStgQa --stacktrace --info --debug

14:44:24.940 [INFO] [org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor] :app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa (Thread[Daemon worker Thread 19,5,main]) started.
14:44:24.941 [LIFECYCLE] [class org.gradle.internal.buildevents.TaskExecutionLogger] :app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa
14:44:24.941 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter] Starting to execute task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa'
14:44:24.948 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ResolveTaskArtifactStateTaskExecuter] Putting task artifact state for task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa' into context took 0.006 secs.
14:44:24.949 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter] Determining if task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa' is up-to-date
14:44:24.950 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.internal.changedetection.rules.TaskTypeTaskStateChanges] Task :app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa class loader hash: 11b60c4720882a56a8c400e1b81f58b4
14:44:24.950 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.internal.changedetection.rules.TaskTypeTaskStateChanges] Task :app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa actions class loader hash: eabcad3980253fdc0853d644ac66901a
14:44:25.032 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter] Executing task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa' (up-to-date check took 0.083 secs) due to:
  No history is available.
14:44:25.033 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter] Executing actions for task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa'.
14:44:25.033 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.internal.changedetection.changes.RebuildIncrementalTaskInputs] All input files are considered out-of-date for incremental task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa'.
14:44:25.142 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ResolveTaskArtifactStateTaskExecuter] Removed task artifact state for {} from context.
14:44:25.143 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter] Finished executing task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa'
14:44:25.143 [LIFECYCLE] [class org.gradle.internal.buildevents.TaskExecutionLogger] :app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa FAILED
14:44:25.143 [INFO] [org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor] :app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa (Thread[Daemon worker Thread 19,5,main]) completed. Took 0.202 secs.
14:44:25.144 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.internal.operations.DefaultBuildOperationWorkerRegistry] Worker root.87 completed (0 in use)
14:44:25.144 [DEBUG] [org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor] Task worker [Thread[Daemon worker Thread 19,5,main]] finished, busy: 28.622 secs, idle: 0.039 secs
14:44:25.146 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] * What went wrong:
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] Execution failed for task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa'.
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] > java.lang.NullPointerException (no error message)
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]
14:44:25.147 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] * Exception is:
14:44:25.148 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] org.gradle.api.tasks.TaskExecutionException: Execution failed for task ':app:transformNativeLibsWithStripDebugSymbolForStgQa'.
14:44:25.148 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeActions(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:84)
14:44:25.148 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.execute(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:55)
14:44:25.148 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter.execute(SkipUpToDateTaskExecuter.java:62)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ValidatingTaskExecuter.execute(ValidatingTaskExecuter.java:58)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipEmptySourceFilesTaskExecuter.execute(SkipEmptySourceFilesTaskExecuter.java:88)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ResolveTaskArtifactStateTaskExecuter.execute(ResolveTaskArtifactStateTaskExecuter.java:46)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipTaskWithNoActionsExecuter.execute(SkipTaskWithNoActionsExecuter.java:51)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.SkipOnlyIfTaskExecuter.execute(SkipOnlyIfTaskExecuter.java:54)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter.execute(ExecuteAtMostOnceTaskExecuter.java:43)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.CatchExceptionTaskExecuter.execute(CatchExceptionTaskExecuter.java:34)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker$1.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:236)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker$1.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:228)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.Transformers$4.transform(Transformers.java:169)
14:44:25.149 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:106)
14:44:25.150 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:61)
14:44:25.150 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:228)
14:44:25.150 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter$EventFiringTaskWorker.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:215)
14:44:25.150 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor$TaskExecutorWorker.processTask(AbstractTaskPlanExecutor.java:77)
14:44:25.150 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.AbstractTaskPlanExecutor$TaskExecutorWorker.run(AbstractTaskPlanExecutor.java:58)
14:44:25.150 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskPlanExecutor.process(DefaultTaskPlanExecutor.java:32)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.taskgraph.DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.execute(DefaultTaskGraphExecuter.java:113)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.SelectedTaskExecutionAction.execute(SelectedTaskExecutionAction.java:37)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:37)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.access$000(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:23)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter$1.proceed(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:43)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.DryRunBuildExecutionAction.execute(DryRunBuildExecutionAction.java:32)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:37)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.execution.DefaultBuildExecuter.execute(DefaultBuildExecuter.java:30)
14:44:25.151 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$3.execute(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:196)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher$3.execute(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:193)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.Transformers$4.transform(Transformers.java:169)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:106)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.progress.DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.run(DefaultBuildOperationExecutor.java:56)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuildStages(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:193)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.doBuild(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:119)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.run(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:102)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.exec.GradleBuildController.run(GradleBuildController.java:71)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ExecuteBuildActionRunner.run(ExecuteBuildActionRunner.java:28)
14:44:25.152 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.exec.ChainingBuildActionRunner.run(ChainingBuildActionRunner.java:35)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter.execute(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:41)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.exec.InProcessBuildActionExecuter.execute(InProcessBuildActionExecuter.java:26)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.execute(ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.java:75)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.execute(ContinuousBuildActionExecuter.java:49)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ServicesSetupBuildActionExecuter.execute(ServicesSetupBuildActionExecuter.java:44)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.tooling.internal.provider.ServicesSetupBuildActionExecuter.execute(ServicesSetupBuildActionExecuter.java:29)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ExecuteBuild.doBuild(ExecuteBuild.java:67)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.BuildCommandOnly.execute(BuildCommandOnly.java:36)
14:44:25.153 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.WatchForDisconnection.execute(WatchForDisconnection.java:47)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ResetDeprecationLogger.execute(ResetDeprecationLogger.java:26)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.RequestStopIfSingleUsedDaemon.execute(RequestStopIfSingleUsedDaemon.java:34)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ForwardClientInput$2.call(ForwardClientInput.java:74)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ForwardClientInput$2.call(ForwardClientInput.java:72)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.util.Swapper.swap(Swapper.java:38)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.ForwardClientInput.execute(ForwardClientInput.java:72)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.154 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.LogAndCheckHealth.execute(LogAndCheckHealth.java:55)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.LogToClient.doBuild(LogToClient.java:60)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.BuildCommandOnly.execute(BuildCommandOnly.java:36)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.EstablishBuildEnvironment.doBuild(EstablishBuildEnvironment.java:72)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.BuildCommandOnly.execute(BuildCommandOnly.java:36)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.api.DaemonCommandExecution.proceed(DaemonCommandExecution.java:120)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.exec.StartBuildOrRespondWithBusy$1.run(StartBuildOrRespondWithBusy.java:50)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.launcher.daemon.server.DaemonStateCoordinator$1.run(DaemonStateCoordinator.java:297)
14:44:25.155 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.concurrent.ExecutorPolicy$CatchAndRecordFailures.onExecute(ExecutorPolicy.java:54)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.concurrent.StoppableExecutorImpl$1.run(StoppableExecutorImpl.java:40)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter] Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.ide.common.process.ProcessInfoBuilder.setExecutable(ProcessInfoBuilder.java:97)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.build.gradle.internal.transforms.StripDebugSymbolTransform.stripFile(StripDebugSymbolTransform.java:223)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.build.gradle.internal.transforms.StripDebugSymbolTransform.transform(StripDebugSymbolTransform.java:187)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.build.gradle.internal.pipeline.TransformTask$2.call(TransformTask.java:185)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.build.gradle.internal.pipeline.TransformTask$2.call(TransformTask.java:181)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.builder.profile.ThreadRecorder.record(ThreadRecorder.java:102)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at com.android.build.gradle.internal.pipeline.TransformTask.transform(TransformTask.java:176)
14:44:25.156 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.internal.reflect.JavaMethod.invoke(JavaMethod.java:73)
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.project.taskfactory.DefaultTaskClassInfoStore$IncrementalTaskAction.doExecute(DefaultTaskClassInfoStore.java:163)
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.project.taskfactory.DefaultTaskClassInfoStore$StandardTaskAction.execute(DefaultTaskClassInfoStore.java:134)
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.project.taskfactory.DefaultTaskClassInfoStore$StandardTaskAction.execute(DefaultTaskClassInfoStore.java:123)
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeAction(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:95)
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   at org.gradle.api.internal.tasks.execution.ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.executeActions(ExecuteActionsTaskExecuter.java:76)
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]   ... 70 more
14:44:25.157 [ERROR] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildExceptionReporter]
14:44:25.158 [LIFECYCLE] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildResultLogger]
14:44:25.158 [LIFECYCLE] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildResultLogger] BUILD FAILED
14:44:25.158 [LIFECYCLE] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildResultLogger]
14:44:25.158 [LIFECYCLE] [org.gradle.internal.buildevents.BuildResultLogger] Total time: 38.651 secs
14:44:25.273 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.Project] PREDEX CACHE HITS:   2
14:44:25.273 [INFO] [org.gradle.api.Project] PREDEX CACHE MISSES: 1

Please note that StgQa within assembleStgQa is the build variant name.

How can I get this exception fixed ?

EDIT:

build.gradle

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
apply plugin: 'io.fabric'
apply plugin: 'realm-android'

repositories {
    maven {
        url 'https://maven.fabric.io/public'
    }
}

android {
    compileSdkVersion '"Symbol Technologies LLC":EMDK 4.2 (API 19):19'
    buildToolsVersion "25.0.2"

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.company.handset"
        minSdkVersion 19
        targetSdkVersion 25
        versionCode 220001
        versionName "22.0.0"
        buildConfigField 'String', 'CLIENT_CREDENTIALS_USERNAME', '"xxx"'
        buildConfigField 'String', 'CLIENT_CREDENTIALS_PASSWORD', '"xxx"'
        buildConfigField 'boolean', 'DISABLE_CRASHLYTICS', 'false'
    }

    compileOptions {
        sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
        targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
    }

    signingConfigs {
        debug {
            storeFile file("../store/debug.keystore")
            storePassword "xxx"
            keyAlias "xxx"
            keyPassword "xxx"
        }
        qa {
            storeFile file("../store/debug.keystore")
            storePassword "xxx"
            keyAlias "xxx"
            keyPassword "xxx"
        }
        release {
            storeFile file("../store/release.keystore")
            storePassword "xxx"
            keyAlias "xxx"
            keyPassword "xxx"
        }
    }

    buildTypes {
        debug {
            debuggable true
            zipAlignEnabled true
            minifyEnabled false
            shrinkResources false
            buildConfigField 'boolean', 'DISABLE_CRASHLYTICS', 'true'
            ext.enableCrashlytics = false
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
        }
        qa {
            debuggable true
            zipAlignEnabled true
            minifyEnabled false
            shrinkResources false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules-qa.pro'
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
        }
        release {
            debuggable false
            zipAlignEnabled true
            minifyEnabled false
            shrinkResources false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
            signingConfig signingConfigs.release
        }
    }

    productFlavors {
        dev {
            applicationId "com.company.handset.dev"
        }
        stg {
            applicationId "com.company.handset.stg"
        }
        tst {
            applicationId "com.company.handset.tst"
        }
        prod {
            applicationId "com.company.handset"
            buildConfigField 'String', 'CLIENT_CREDENTIALS_USERNAME', '"xxx"'
            buildConfigField 'String', 'CLIENT_CREDENTIALS_PASSWORD', '"xxx"'
        }
    }
}

dependencies {
    compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
    debugCompile project(path: ':shoppingSDK', configuration: 'debug')
    qaCompile project(path: ':shoppingSDK', configuration: 'debug')
    releaseCompile project(path: ':shoppingSDK', configuration: 'release')
    compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:25.3.0'
    // networking through cradle
    compile files('libs/wmqtt.jar')
    // Adobe Analytics
    compile files('libs/adobeMobileLibrary-4.11.0.jar')
    // Download and Cache images
    compile 'com.squareup.picasso:picasso:2.5.2'
    // Barcode scanner
    compile 'com.journeyapps:zxing-android-embedded:3.0.3@aar'
    compile 'com.google.zxing:core:3.2.1'
    // Butter knife (View injection)
    compile 'com.jakewharton:butterknife:7.0.1'
    // do not update butterknife to ver 8
    // crash reporting system (requires fabric)
    compile('com.crashlytics.sdk.android:crashlytics:2.6.5@aar') {
        transitive = true;
    }
    testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
    testCompile 'org.mockito:mockito-core:2.+'
}

Answer 1

I have fixed it by:

1) within build.gradle (app) downgrade to using buildToolsVersion '23.0.3'

2) within build.gradle (project) downgrade to classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:2.1.2'

3) within gradle-wrapper.properties downgrade to gradle 2.10 distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-2.10-all.zip

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UPDATE June 7th, this also worked:

1) updated to latest Android Studio 2.3.2

2) in A.S., click File -> Project Structure -> make a note of the directory path for "Android NDK location" and open the folder. Step out into the /sdk/ folder and delete the "ndk-bundle" folder. This takes a bit of time because of all the files.

3) back in A.S., remove the "Android NDK location" path -> click OK

4) rebuild the project and deploy without the annoying build error.

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UPDATE July 11th: more possible fixes ...

1) update to preview Android Studio 2.4

2) set compileVersion and TargetSdkVersion to 25