gradle/gradle · error · InvalidUserDataException

must provide at least one pattern to not match

Error message

must provide at least one pattern to not match

What it means

Gradle throws this error when the following condition is violated: must provide at least one pattern to not match

Source

Thrown at platforms/core-configuration/file-operations/src/main/java/org/gradle/api/internal/file/copy/DefaultCopySpec.java:340

    @Override
    public CopySpec filesMatching(Iterable<String> patterns, Action<? super FileCopyDetails> action) {
        if (!patterns.iterator().hasNext()) {
            throw new InvalidUserDataException("must provide at least one pattern to match");
        }
        PatternMatcher matcher = PatternMatcherFactory.getPatternsMatcher(true, isCaseSensitive(), patterns);
        return eachFile(new MatchingCopyAction(matcher, action));
    }

    @Override
    public CopySpec filesNotMatching(String pattern, Action<? super FileCopyDetails> action) {
        PatternMatcher matcher = PatternMatcherFactory.getPatternMatcher(true, isCaseSensitive(), pattern);
        return eachFile(new MatchingCopyAction(matcher.negate(), action));
    }

    @Override
    public CopySpec filesNotMatching(Iterable<String> patterns, Action<? super FileCopyDetails> action) {
        if (!patterns.iterator().hasNext()) {
            throw new InvalidUserDataException("must provide at least one pattern to not match");
        }
        PatternMatcher matcher = PatternMatcherFactory.getPatternsMatcher(true, isCaseSensitive(), patterns);
        return eachFile(new MatchingCopyAction(matcher.negate(), action));
    }

    public PatternSet getPatterns() {
        return patternSet;
    }

    @Override
    public CopySpec include(String... includes) {
        patternSet.include(includes);
        return this;
    }

    @Override
    public CopySpec include(Iterable<String> includes) {
        patternSet.include(includes);

View on GitHub (pinned to 534f27719b)

Solutions

1. Review the values passed to this API and correct the invalid input described in the error message.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at platforms/core-configuration/file-operations/src/main/java/org/gradle/api/internal/file/copy/DefaultCopySpec.java:340 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of gradle/gradle@534f27719b (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0fdfef5e9109ca81. Report an issue: GitHub.