GoogleContainerTools/jib · error · GradleException

Could not determine Jib plugin version

Error message

Could not determine Jib plugin version

What it means

checkJibVersion enforces the `jib.requiredVersion` system property (used by Skaffold to pin a compatible Jib version). When the property is set but GradleProjectProperties.TOOL_VERSION is null — Jib could not determine its own plugin version — plugin application fails with this GradleException because compatibility cannot be verified.

Source

Thrown at jib-gradle-plugin/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/tools/jib/gradle/JibPlugin.java:78

              + GradleVersion.current()
              + ", but jib requires "
              + GRADLE_MIN_VERSION
              + " or higher. You can upgrade by running 'gradle wrapper --gradle-version="
              + GRADLE_MIN_VERSION.getVersion()
              + "'.");
    }
  }

  /** Check the Jib version matches the required version (if specified). */
  private static void checkJibVersion() {
    // todo: should retrieve from project properties?
    String requiredVersion = System.getProperty(REQUIRED_VERSION_PROPERTY_NAME);
    if (requiredVersion == null) {
      return;
    }
    String actualVersion = GradleProjectProperties.TOOL_VERSION;
    if (actualVersion == null) {
      throw new GradleException("Could not determine Jib plugin version");
    }
    VersionChecker<GradleVersion> checker = new VersionChecker<>(GradleVersion::version);
    if (!checker.compatibleVersion(requiredVersion, actualVersion)) {
      String failure =
          String.format(
              "Jib plugin version is %s but is required to be %s", actualVersion, requiredVersion);
      throw new GradleException(failure);
    }
  }

  @Override
  public void apply(Project project) {
    checkGradleVersion();
    checkJibVersion();

    JibExtension jibExtension =
        project.getExtensions().create(JIB_EXTENSION_NAME, JibExtension.class, project);

View on GitHub (pinned to fb949e2676)

Solutions

1. Reinstall/rebuild the Jib plugin so its jar contains version metadata (use the official release from the plugin portal)
2. Check the plugin jar's MANIFEST.MF for Implementation-Version and rebuild if missing
3. Temporarily unset jib.requiredVersion / the Skaffold check to unblock the build, then fix the plugin install
4. Upgrade Skaffold and the Jib plugin together to matching supported versions

Example fix

null

if (System.getProperty('jib.requiredVersion') != null &&
    GradleProjectProperties.TOOL_VERSION == null) {
  logger.warn('jib.requiredVersion is set but plugin version metadata is missing; reinstall the Jib plugin')
}

try {
  jib.build()
} catch (GradleException e) {
  if (e.message == 'Could not determine Jib plugin version') {
    logger.error('Reinstall the Jib plugin from the official portal; jar is missing version metadata')
  } else { throw e }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Running with -Djib.requiredVersion=<x> (e.g. via _skaffoldFailIfJibOutOfDate) while GradleProjectProperties.TOOL_VERSION is null, usually because the plugin jar's version metadata (MANIFEST/implementation-version) is missing — e.g. a locally built, mangled, or shaded plugin jar.

Common situations: Using a locally-installed/published Jib plugin snapshot whose jar lost version metadata; classpath shading stripping the manifest; Skaffold-managed builds with a modified Jib plugin installation.

Understand the failure class

Background: "missing required config value" errors: why libraries refuse to start when a configuration key is empty, unset, or blank — this error's family across 48 libraries.

Related errors

• container.appRoot is not an absolute Unix-style path: ${inva
• invalid value for containerizingMode: ${invalidContainerizin
• container.workingDirectory is not an absolute Unix-style pat
• from.platforms contains a platform configuration that is mis
• container.volumes is not an absolute Unix-style path: ${inva

AI-assisted analysis of GoogleContainerTools/jib@fb949e2676 (2026-09-06). Data as JSON: /api/errors/26550c3d36f5a813. Report an issue: GitHub.