quarkusio/quarkus · error · java.lang.IllegalArgumentException

does not exist

Error message

 does not exist

What it means

PathTreeBuilder.build() verifies the configured root exists on disk and throws IllegalArgumentException '<root> does not exist' when it does not. The root was provided (otherwise you'd get 'The tree root has not been provided') but points to a missing file/directory.

Source

Thrown at independent-projects/bootstrap/app-model/src/main/java/io/quarkus/paths/PathTreeBuilder.java:71

        }
        excludes.add(expr);
        return this;
    }

    List<String> getExcludes() {
        return excludes;
    }

    PathFilter getPathFilter() {
        return includes == null && excludes == null ? null : new PathFilter(includes, excludes);
    }

    public PathTree build() {
        if (root == null) {
            throw new RuntimeException("The tree root has not been provided");
        }
        if (!Files.exists(root)) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(root + " does not exist");
        }
        if (archive) {
            return ArchivePathTree.forPath(root, getPathFilter(), manifestEnabled == null ? true : manifestEnabled);
        }
        if (Files.isDirectory(root)) {
            return new DirectoryPathTree(root, getPathFilter(), manifestEnabled == null ? false : manifestEnabled);
        }
        return new FilePathTree(root, getPathFilter());
    }
}

View on GitHub (pinned to e1c734241f)

Solutions

1. Check Files.exists(root) before build() and report a clear error including the resolved absolute path (root.toAbsolutePath()).
2. Fix the configured path value or create the directory/file before building.
3. Ensure build ordering produces the target path before this code runs.
4. Catch IllegalArgumentException if absence is an expected, recoverable state.

Example fix

// before
PathTree tree = PathTreeBuilder.builder().setRoot(genDir).build();
// after
if (!Files.exists(genDir)) {
    Files.createDirectories(genDir); // or fail with a clear message
}
PathTree tree = PathTreeBuilder.builder().setRoot(genDir).build();

if (root != null && !Files.exists(root)) {
    throw new IllegalStateException("PathTreeBuilder root does not exist: " + root.toAbsolutePath());
}

static boolean isBuildableRoot(Path root) {
    return root != null && Files.exists(root);
}

try {
    PathTree tree = builder.build();
} catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
    if (e.getMessage() != null && e.getMessage().endsWith("does not exist")) {
        log.errorf("Configured root missing; resolved to %s", String.valueOf(root));
    }
    throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling build() after setRoot(path) where Files.exists(root) is false — path typo, deleted target file, wrong working directory, or a directory created later in the build.

Common situations: Wiring a path tree to a build output (e.g. classes or generated-sources dir) that hasn't been produced yet; paths configured with environment-specific absolute values; running tests from a different module directory.

Related errors

• does not exist
• Predicate already set
• Location already set
• The tree root has not been provided
• Expected a path relative to the root of the path tree but go

AI-assisted analysis of quarkusio/quarkus@e1c734241f (2026-09-05). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4c5322a81cb25d2a. Report an issue: GitHub.