So, here's the situation: We're working with the Spring Tool Suite editor, and everything seems to be smooth . Our code looks clean, no errors popping up, all seems well. But then, when we try to run our code as a Spring Boot App,instead of the expected smooth run, we're surprise with an exception shouting about a class not being found. 

In this blog post, I'll share my own experience encountering this dreaded error and explore what it signifies. Then, armed with knowledge, we'll delve into possible solutions to overcome it. So, let's roll up our sleeves and tackle this Java NoSuchMethodError.

exception in thread "main" java.lang.nosuchmethoderror: 'org.springframework.core.io.support.springfactoriesloader org.springframework.core.io.support.springfactoriesloader.fordefaultresourcelocation(java.lang.classloader)

Solution for "java.lang.NoSuchMethodError"

The "java.lang.NoSuchMethodError" typically occurs when your code tries to call a method that doesn't exist in the class being used. This often happens due to version mismatches or conflicts in your dependencies, especially in Java projects that use frameworks like Spring.

To resolve this error, follow these steps:

  1. Check your dependency versions: Make sure that all your dependencies, especially Spring-related ones, are compatible with each other. Conflicting versions can lead to runtime errors like NoSuchMethodError.
  2. Inspect your code: Look for any calls to methods that might not exist in the versions of the libraries you're using. Verify that the method signatures match with the versions of the libraries you've included.
  3. Update dependencies: If you find conflicting versions or outdated libraries, update them to compatible versions. Be cautious and test your application thoroughly after making these changes to ensure stability.

Example scenario:

      
import org.springframework.core.io.support.SpringFactoriesLoader;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Attempting to call a method from SpringFactoriesLoader
        SpringFactoriesLoader.forDefaultResourceLocation(Main.class.getClassLoader());
    }
}
      
    

Solution:2

 Mixing incompatible versions. our dependency management, as indicated by our pom.xml file, was in disarray, causing headaches in our Spring Boot application.

To tackle this issue head-on, we needed to clean up our dependencies. Here's what we found:

        
            <dependencies>

                
                <dependency>
                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-data-jpa</artifactId>
                </dependency>
                <dependency>
                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
                </dependency>
                <dependency>
                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-security</artifactId>
                </dependency>

                <dependency>
                    <groupId>mysql</groupId>
                    <artifactId>mysql-connector-java</artifactId>
                    <scope>runtime</scope>
                </dependency>
                <dependency>
                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-test</artifactId>
                    <scope>test</scope>
                </dependency>
            </dependencies>
        
    

We identified the culprit: the inclusion of spring-core dependencies, which clashed with other components. Our solution was straightforward:

  • Remove the spring-core dependencies from our project. These were likely the root cause of our compatibility woes.
  • Avoid using <version /> tags when including starters. These are managed through the parent and can lead to version conflicts.
  • Instead of separate Spring Security dependencies, consolidate them into spring-boot-starter-security for a more streamlined setup.
  • Lastly, eliminate any duplicate entries, such as multiple instances of mysql-connector-java, to ensure a clean dependency tree.

Implementing these changes not only resolved our immediate errors but also helped optimize our project structure for smoother development and maintenance.

Solution:3

Solution for "java.lang.NoSuchMethodError"

"SEVERE: Servlet /SpringMVC_Multi_Row threw load() exception java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: org.springframework.core.io.ResourceEditor. <init>"

The "java.lang.NoSuchMethodError" in the context of a Servlet load() exception often occurs due to version conflicts or missing method implementations in your Spring dependencies. Here's a detailed solution to resolve this error:

  1. Check Dependency Versions: Ensure that your Spring dependencies are compatible with each other. Version conflicts can arise when different modules require different versions of the same library.
  2. Inspect Spring Servlet Configuration: Review your servlet configuration, especially the initialization of servlet beans. In the provided error message, the problem seems to be with the initialization of the HttpServletBean.
  3. Verify ResourceEditor Constructor: The error message indicates that the constructor for org.springframework.core.io.ResourceEditor is missing or incompatible. Check the version of Spring being used and ensure that the constructor signature matches the version you're using.
  4. Update Spring Dependencies: If you find version mismatches or missing methods, update your Spring dependencies to compatible versions. Make sure to check the documentation for each module to understand any changes or deprecations in the API.
  5. Rebuild and Test: After updating your dependencies, rebuild your project and thoroughly test it to ensure that the NoSuchMethodError is resolved and that your application functions as expected.

Example scenario:

      
import org.springframework.web.servlet.HttpServletBean;

public class MainServlet extends HttpServletBean {
    public void init() {
        // Attempting to initialize HttpServletBean
        // This line might cause the NoSuchMethodError
        // Ensure the constructor signature matches with the Spring version being used
        ResourceLoader resourceLoader = getResourceLoader();
        PropertyResolver propertyResolver = getPropertyResolver();
        ResourceEditor resourceEditor = new ResourceEditor(resourceLoader, propertyResolver);
    }
}