unable to extend AbstractProcessor to create java annotation processor

Question

I am trying to begin creating a javax annotation processor, im doing it from android studio for now. I just need the gradle dependency i think for it. Right now in gradle i have the following which i have tried:

provided 'javax.annotation:jsr250-api:1.0'

but when i try to build the following class it says it cant find AbstractProcessor class:

class MyAnnotationProcessor extends AbstractProcessor{
}

How do i get it to recognize this class ?

here is the exact error:

and my imports look like this:

and here is my java version:

 $java -version 
Picked up JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS: -Xmx512m -Xms64m
java version "1.8.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_45-b14)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.45-b02, mixed mode)

Answer 1

AbstractProcessor is not accessible in android library module. To make it work, you can create a separate "java library" module and add its dependency in your main module. Below is the step by step description of the solution what worked for me:

1. Create a new module in your android project. Right click on your project -> New -> Module -> select Java Library
2. Follow the instructions to add module name, package name etc and finish

3. Now create a new class CustomAnnotationProcessor in this library and extend the AbstractProcessor

4. Following is the snapshot of my Custom annotation processor:

   import java.util.Set;
   import javax.annotation.processing.AbstractProcessor;
   import javax.annotation.processing.RoundEnvironment;
   import javax.lang.model.element.TypeElement;
   
   public class CustomAnnotationProcessor extends AbstractProcessor{
   @Override
   public boolean process(Set<? extends TypeElement> annotations, RoundEnvironment roundEnv) {
   return false;
   }
   }
   

5. Add compile options in your app/build.gradle to java 1.7. see following snapshot:

6. Add dependency of this newly created module in your main module

7. Compile and Run..!!

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