io.cucumber.core.exception.CucumberException: Couldn't load plugin class: com.aventstack.extentreports.cucumber.adapter.ExtentCucumberAdapter

2 min read 06-10-2024
io.cucumber.core.exception.CucumberException: Couldn't load plugin class: com.aventstack.extentreports.cucumber.adapter.ExtentCucumberAdapter


Cucumber Exception: "Couldn't load plugin class: com.aventstack.extentreports.cucumber.adapter.ExtentCucumberAdapter" - Solved!

The Problem: You're trying to integrate Extent Reports with your Cucumber tests, but you're encountering the frustrating error: "io.cucumber.core.exception.CucumberException: Couldn't load plugin class: com.aventstack.extentreports.cucumber.adapter.ExtentCucumberAdapter". This means your Cucumber framework can't find the necessary plugin to generate Extent Reports.

Here's a breakdown of the issue and how to fix it:

Scenario: You're using Cucumber for BDD testing and want to leverage Extent Reports for detailed test reports. You've included the necessary dependencies in your project, but still, Cucumber can't locate the ExtentCucumberAdapter.

Original Code (pom.xml):

<dependency>
    <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
    <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>
    <version>7.x.x</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.aventstack</groupId>
    <artifactId>extentreports-cucumber7-adapter</artifactId>
    <version>5.x.x</version>
</dependency>

Explanation:

  • Dependencies: Your pom.xml shows that you've correctly included the Cucumber and Extent Reports dependencies.
  • Plugin Class: Cucumber expects the ExtentCucumberAdapter plugin to be available on the classpath to generate reports. This is essential for integration.

Common Causes:

  1. Dependency Scope: If your extentreports-cucumber7-adapter dependency has a scope of provided or test, Cucumber won't be able to access it during the runtime execution.
  2. Missing Jar Files: Even with the dependencies declared, sometimes the necessary JAR files might not be properly added to the project's classpath.
  3. Classpath Conflicts: If there are conflicting versions of other libraries in your project, it could cause issues with the plugin loading.

Solution:

  1. Verify Dependency Scope: Ensure your extentreports-cucumber7-adapter dependency in pom.xml has the compile or runtime scope.
  2. Rebuild Project: After changing the scope, clean and rebuild your project to ensure all dependencies are updated correctly.
  3. Maven Clean Install: Use the command mvn clean install to force a fresh build and eliminate any potential cached issues.
  4. Check for Conflicts: Use tools like Maven Dependency Analyzer to identify any potential classpath conflicts that could affect the plugin loading.
  5. Manually Add Jars: In extreme cases, you can manually add the extentreports-cucumber7-adapter JAR file to your project's classpath. However, it's generally preferable to handle this through your build tool (Maven or Gradle).

Additional Tips:

  • Error Log: Check your build logs for more specific error messages related to the plugin loading issue.
  • Plugin Configuration: Ensure you've properly configured the ExtentCucumberAdapter plugin within your Cucumber configuration (e.g., cucumber.properties or cucumber.json).
  • Maven Repository: Double-check that the extentreports-cucumber7-adapter library is correctly hosted in your Maven repository (e.g., Maven Central).

Example:

Here's an example of how you could use the ExtentCucumberAdapter in your Cucumber tests:

@RunWith(Cucumber.class)
@CucumberOptions(
    features = "src/test/resources/features",
    glue = "com.example.glue",
    plugin = {"pretty", "html:target/cucumber-reports/cucumber.html", "com.aventstack.extentreports.cucumber.adapter.ExtentCucumberAdapter:"}
)
public class CucumberTestRunner {
    // ...
}

By correctly including the adapter in the plugin configuration, you'll generate beautiful HTML reports with Extent Reports.

Conclusion:

By understanding the common causes of this exception and following the provided solutions, you can successfully integrate Extent Reports with your Cucumber tests and enjoy detailed, comprehensive reports. Remember to double-check your dependencies, build process, and plugin configuration for a smooth integration.