[java] "Cannot start compilation: the output path is not specified for module..."

I have a very simple Java + Gradle project. It builds fine. It runs fine from the shell with "gradle run". However, if I try to run inside of IntelliJ, I get:

Cannot start compilation: the output path is not specified for module "xyz" Specify the output path in Configure Project.

My "Compiler output" is set to "Inherit project compile output path". I don't want a custom output path, whatever that is, just do a normal gradle build and run.

While configuring idea plugin in gradle, you should define output directories as follows.

idea{
    module{
        inheritOutputDirs = false
        outputDir = compileJava.destinationDir
        testOutputDir = compileTestJava.destinationDir
    }
}

Open .iml file. Look for keyword 'NewModuleRootManager'. Check if attribute 'inherit-compiler-output' is set to true or not. If not set to true.

Like this :

component name="NewModuleRootManager" inherit-compiler-output="true">
    <content url="file://$MODULE_DIR$">
      <sourceFolder url="file://$MODULE_DIR$/test" isTestSource="true" />
      <sourceFolder url="file://$MODULE_DIR$/spec" isTestSource="true" />
      <sourceFolder url="file://$MODULE_DIR$/app" isTestSource="false" />

I'm answering this so that I can find the solution when I have to google this error again.

Set project compile output path to path_of_the_project_folder/out. That's what is working today. The intellj documentation makes it seem like we can select any folder but that's not the case.

After this

Two things to do:

Project Settings > Project compiler output > Set it as "Project path(You actual project's path)”+”\out”.

Project Settings > Module > Path > Choose "Inherit project compile path""

If button ran is not active

You must reload IDEA

Bugs caused by missing predefined folder for store compiled class file which is normally is /out folder by default. You can give a try to close Intellij > Import Project > From existing source. This will solve this problem.

If none of the above method worked then try this it worked for me.

Go to File > Project Structure> Project and then in Project Compiler Output click on the three dots and provide the path of your project name(name of the file) and then click on Apply and than on Ok.

None of the suggestions worked for me until I ran the command "gradle cleanIdeaModule ideaModule" info here: https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/idea_plugin.html

You have to define a path in the "Project compiler output" field in

File > Project Structure... > Project > Project compiler output

This path will be used to store all project compilation results.

Two things to do:

1. Project Settings > Project compiler output > Set it as "Project path(You actual project's path)”+”\out”.

2. Project Settings > Module > Path > Choose "Inherit project compile path"

change drop down to start file your project

I get this error too when creating a project in IntelliJ without using a template.

I have 2 SDKs installed: Amazon Corretto and java version 11.0.4 and so, what I do when I have this error is "change the SDK" it usually works fine with Corretto

to do that you need to click on File (in IntelliJ)/ Project Structure / Project / Project SDK: select corretto from the dropdown list (or check the option in your computer) as shown here

hope this will work for you too

Best, Constantin