gradle/gradle · error · GradleException

Create static archive failed: could not delete previous arch

Error message

Create static archive failed: could not delete previous archive

What it means

ArStaticLibraryArchiver deletes the previous static archive (.a) before re-archiving so stale object files cannot survive; if File.delete() returns false it throws GradleException 'Create static archive failed: could not delete previous archive'. The old archive is effectively locked or not deletable by the build user.

Source

Thrown at platforms/native/platform-native/src/main/java/org/gradle/nativeplatform/toolchain/internal/gcc/ArStaticLibraryArchiver.java:57

public class ArStaticLibraryArchiver extends AbstractCompiler<StaticLibraryArchiverSpec> {
    public ArStaticLibraryArchiver(BuildOperationExecutor buildOperationExecutor, CommandLineToolInvocationWorker commandLineToolInvocationWorker, CommandLineToolContext invocationContext, WorkerLeaseService workerLeaseService) {
        super(buildOperationExecutor, commandLineToolInvocationWorker, invocationContext, new ArchiverSpecToArguments(), false, workerLeaseService);
    }

    @Override
    public WorkResult execute(final StaticLibraryArchiverSpec spec) {
        deletePreviousOutput(spec);

        return super.execute(spec);
    }

    private void deletePreviousOutput(StaticLibraryArchiverSpec spec) {
        // Need to delete the previous archive, otherwise stale object files will remain
        if (!spec.getOutputFile().isFile()) {
            return;
        }
        if (!spec.getOutputFile().delete()) {
            throw new GradleException("Create static archive failed: could not delete previous archive");
        }
    }

    @Override
    protected Action<BuildOperationQueue<CommandLineToolInvocation>> newInvocationAction(final StaticLibraryArchiverSpec spec, List<String> args) {
        final CommandLineToolInvocation invocation = newInvocation(
            "archiving " + spec.getOutputFile().getName(), spec.getOutputFile().getParentFile(), args, spec.getOperationLogger());

        return new Action<BuildOperationQueue<CommandLineToolInvocation>>() {
            @Override
            public void execute(BuildOperationQueue<CommandLineToolInvocation> buildQueue) {
                buildQueue.setLogLocation(spec.getOperationLogger().getLogLocation());
                buildQueue.add(invocation);
            }
        };
    }

    @Override

View on GitHub (pinned to 534f27719b)

Solutions

1. Delete the stale archive manually (or run gradle clean for that module) and re-run the build
2. Exclude the project and build directories from antivirus/real-time scanning and file indexing on Windows
3. Fix ownership/permissions of the build output directory so the build user can unlink files (chmod/chown on the build dir)

// Before building, prove the previous archive is deletable
val archive = layout.buildDirectory.file("lib/main.a").get().asFile
if (archive.isFile && !archive.delete()) {
    throw GradleException("$archive is locked — close processes holding it or fix permissions, then rebuild")
}

When it happens

Trigger: A stale .a output file exists and delete() fails: on Windows the file is open in another process (antivirus, indexer, archive tool, a still-running compiler); on Linux permissions/ownership deny unlink, or the directory is read-only.

Common situations: Windows builds with real-time antivirus scanning build outputs; a previous build's process still holding the file; build directories shared between users/containers with mixed ownership; network file systems.

Related errors

• Unable to get system memory
• Do not know how to unexport a main symbol on {operatingSyste
• Could not find 'cygpath' executable in path: {path}
• Could not open %s.
• Failed to initialize %s

AI-assisted analysis of gradle/gradle@534f27719b (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/1e8950a45c24e9da. Report an issue: GitHub.