Gradle User Manual

Gradle Build Tool

gradle Gradle Build Tool is a fast, dependable, and adaptable open-source build automation tool with an elegant and extensible declarative build language.

In this User Manual, Gradle Build Tool is abbreviated Gradle.

Supported Languages and Frameworks

Gradle supports Android, Java, Kotlin Multiplatform, Groovy, Scala, Javascript, and C/C++.

Compatible IDEs

All major IDEs support Gradle, including Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio Code, Eclipse, and NetBeans.

You can also invoke Gradle via its command-line interface (CLI) in your terminal or through your continuous integration (CI) server.

Releases

Information on Gradle releases is found on the Release page.

Most projects will start with an existing Gradle build which does not require the installation of Gradle. However, if you are starting a project from scratch, and you need to install Gradle, check out the installation guide.

DPE University

Want to get up and running with Gradle quickly? Take our free, self-paced Gradle Build Tool courses at DPE University.

For Software Engineers and Developers

For software developers that need to build, test, and publish their app, or add dependencies to their build, get started here:

1. Learn how to run Gradle Builds

Description: Learn how to invoke tasks and add dependencies.
Training level: Beginner
Reading time: 25 minutes
→ Read Beginner Concepts

2. Beginner Tutorial

Description: Initialize a Gradle build for a basic Java App.
Training level: Beginner
Training time: 45 minutes
→ Start the Tutorial

For Build Engineers

Build engineers that are ready to configure custom build logic should start here:

1. Learn how to write Gradle scripts

Description: Learn to configure builds, create tasks, and apply plugins.
Training level: Intermediate
Reading time: 35 minutes
→ Read Intermediate Concepts

2. Intermediate Tutorial

Description: Initialize a Gradle project and create a convention plugin.
Training level: Intermediate
Training time: 55 minutes
→ Start the Tutorial

For Plugin Developers

Plugin authors that are ready to develop and publish their own plugins should start here:

1. Learn how to develop Gradle Plugins

Description: Learn to write and publish a plugin.
Training level: Advanced
Reading time: 35 minutes
→ Read Advanced Concepts

2. Advanced Tutorial

Description: Initialize a Gradle project, create a binary plugin, and publish it locally.
Training level: Advanced
Training time: 55 minutes
→ Start the Tutorial

Support

Forum — The fastest way to get help is through the Gradle Forum.
Slack — Community members and core contributors answer questions directly on our Slack Channel.

Licenses

Gradle Build Tool source code is open and licensed under the Apache License 2.0. Gradle user manual and DSL reference manual are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Copyright

© 2025 Gradle, Inc. Gradle®, Develocity®, Build Scan®, and the Gradlephant logo are registered trademarks of Gradle, Inc. On this resource, "Gradle" typically means "Gradle Build Tool" and does not reference Gradle, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

For inquiries related to commercial use or licensing, contact Gradle Inc. directly.