codeconsole opened a new pull request, #16274:
URL: https://github.com/apache/grails-core/pull/16274
## Description
`CodecMetaClassSupport` cannot initialize inside a GraalVM native image. Its
static initializer, added by #15800, builds the Caffeine cache through three
dynamic call sites:
```
7: ldc class com/github/benmanes/caffeine/cache/Caffeine
10: invokedynamic invoke:(Ljava/lang/Class;)Ljava/lang/Object; //
newBuilder()
15: invokedynamic invoke:(Ljava/lang/Object;)Ljava/lang/Object; //
weakKeys()
20: invokedynamic invoke:(Ljava/lang/Object;)Ljava/lang/Object; // build()
```
In an image there is no method handle to link, so Groovy falls back to
`IndyInterface.aotDispatch`, which resolves through the metaclass. The
metaclass is built from `Caffeine.getDeclaredMethods()`, and that is empty
unless `com.github.benmanes.caffeine.cache.Caffeine` is registered for
reflection. So `<clinit>` throws:
```
Caused by: java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError
at
org.grails.commons.DefaultGrailsCodecClass.configureCodecMethods(DefaultGrailsCodecClass.java:329)
at
org.grails.plugins.codecs.DefaultCodecLookup.registerCodec(DefaultCodecLookup.java:63)
...
Caused by: groovy.lang.MissingMethodException: No signature of static
method: newBuilder
for class: com.github.benmanes.caffeine.cache.Caffeine
at
org.grails.encoder.CodecMetaClassSupport.<clinit>(CodecMetaClassSupport.groovy:47)
```
`codecLookup` fails, then `Sitemesh3LayoutTagLib`, then
`gspTagLibraryLookup`, then `groovyPagesTemplateEngine`, and the application
never starts.
Registering `Caffeine` for reflection works around it, but the native-image
agent will not record the need: on a JVM that call site links a `MethodHandle`
directly and never consults the metaclass, so a traced
`reachability-metadata.json` comes back without it. The gap only shows up in
the image.
Six of the ten methods already carried `@CompileStatic`. Moving it to the
class removes the problem at the source — the three call sites become
`invokestatic`/`invokevirtual` and need no metadata:
```
7: invokestatic
Caffeine.newBuilder:()Lcom/github/benmanes/caffeine/cache/Caffeine;
10: invokevirtual
Caffeine.weakKeys:()Lcom/github/benmanes/caffeine/cache/Caffeine;
13: invokevirtual Caffeine.build:()Lcom/github/benmanes/caffeine/cache/Cache;
```
`addMetaMethod` keeps dynamic dispatch under `@CompileDynamic`: it resolves
a metamethod by GString property name (`emc."${methodName}" << closure`), which
is the one thing static compilation cannot express.
Net effect is −6/+5 lines: one class-level annotation replacing six
method-level ones, plus `@CompileDynamic` on the single method that needs it.
No behavior change on the JVM.
Related: #16176 (verify native-image behaviour with an end-to-end native
build).
## Contributor Checklist
### Issue and Scope
- [x] This PR is linked to an existing issue that has been **acknowledged or
approved** by the project team. — No dedicated issue; background above. The
defect is a hard startup failure in a native image, introduced by #15800 when
it merged on 2026-08-10.
- [x] This PR addresses the **complete scope** of the linked issue.
- [x] This PR contains a **single, focused change**.
- [x] This PR targets the **correct branch** for the type of change.
### Code Quality
- [ ] I have **added or updated tests** that cover the changes introduced in
this PR. — No new test. This is a compilation-strategy change with no
JVM-observable behavior change; the existing `CodecMetaClassSupportSpec` covers
both the cached path and the `addMetaMethod` extension hook, which is the
method that stays dynamic. The defect it fixes is only observable in a native
image, which #16176 tracks.
- [ ] I have verified that all existing tests pass by running `./gradlew
build --rerun-tasks`. — Ran `:grails-encoder:test` (4 passed, 0 failed) and
`:grails-encoder:compileGroovy`. Full build not run locally; leaving that to CI.
- [x] My code follows the project's **code style** guidelines. — `./gradlew
:grails-encoder:codeStyle` passes.
- [x] This PR does **not** include mass reformatting, style-only changes, or
large-scale refactoring.
### Licensing and Attribution
- [x] All contributed code is provided under the Apache License 2.0, and new
source files include the appropriate **Apache license header**. — No new files.
- [x] I have the necessary rights to submit this contribution.
### Documentation
- [x] If this PR introduces user-facing changes, I have included or updated
the relevant documentation. — Internal change, no user-facing API.
- [x] The PR description clearly explains **what** was changed and **why**.
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