Why Buildozer fails building an app using both Java 8 and 11? - kivy

Question

I'm facing rather frustrating problem with Buildozer.
I'm building an app to be deployed on Android and the build is failing when I'm using Java 8:
> Failed to apply plugin 'com.android.internal.application'.
> Android Gradle plugin requires Java 11 to run. You are currently using Java 1.8.
You can try some of the following options:
- changing the IDE settings.
- changing the JAVA_HOME environment variable.
- changing `org.gradle.java.home` in `gradle.properties`.
This is quite self-explanatory so I switched to Java 11, then I got this error:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: javax/xml/bind/annotation/XmlSchema
at com.android.repository.api.SchemaModule$SchemaModuleVersion.<init>(SchemaModule.java:156)
at com.android.repository.api.SchemaModule.<init>(SchemaModule.java:75)
at com.android.sdklib.repository.AndroidSdkHandler.<clinit>(AndroidSdkHandler.java:81)
at com.android.sdklib.tool.AvdManagerCli.run(AvdManagerCli.java:213)
at com.android.sdklib.tool.AvdManagerCli.main(AvdManagerCli.java:200)
Web search about this error reveals that it's the wrong syntax for Java version used. In other words it requires Java version 8 in order to execute successfully. But 8 didn't work either.
buildozer.spec file:
[app]
# (str) Title of your application
title = Digital ID
# (str) Package name
package.name = DigitalID
# (str) Package domain (needed for android/ios packaging)
package.domain = org.digitalID
# (str) Source code where the main.py live
source.dir = .
# (list) Source files to include (let empty to include all the files)
source.include_exts = py,png,jpg,kv,atlas,ttf,wav
# (list) List of inclusions using pattern matching
source.include_patterns = assets/*,images/*.png
# (list) Source files to exclude (let empty to not exclude anything)
#source.exclude_exts = spec
# (list) List of directory to exclude (let empty to not exclude anything)
source.exclude_dirs = tests, bin, venv
# (list) List of exclusions using pattern matching
# Do not prefix with './'
#source.exclude_patterns = license,images/*/*.jpg
# (str) Application versioning (method 1)
version = 1.0
# (str) Application versioning (method 2)
# version.regex = __version__ = ['"](.*)['"]
# version.filename = %(source.dir)s/main.py
# (list) Application requirements
# comma separated e.g. requirements = sqlite3,kivy
requirements = python3, kivy, kivymd, android, cython, cffi, plyer, pillow, idna, chardet, charset_normalizer, urllib3, requests, qrcode, pandas
# (str) Custom source folders for requirements
# Sets custom source for any requirements with recipes
# requirements.source.kivy = ../../kivy
# (str) Presplash of the application
presplash.filename = %(source.dir)s/data/presplash.png
# (str) Icon of the application
icon.filename = %(source.dir)s/assets/digicon.png
# (str) Supported orientation (one of landscape, sensorLandscape, portrait or all)
orientation = portrait
# (list) List of service to declare
#services = NAME:ENTRYPOINT_TO_PY,NAME2:ENTRYPOINT2_TO_PY
#
# OSX Specific
#
#
# author = © Copyright Info
# change the major version of python used by the app
osx.python_version = 3
# Kivy version to use
osx.kivy_version = 1.9.1
#
# Android specific
#
# (bool) Indicate if the application should be fullscreen or not
fullscreen = 0
# (string) Presplash background color (for android toolchain)
# Supported formats are: #RRGGBB #AARRGGBB or one of the following names:
# red, blue, green, black, white, gray, cyan, magenta, yellow, lightgray,
# darkgray, grey, lightgrey, darkgrey, aqua, fuchsia, lime, maroon, navy,
# olive, purple, silver, teal.
#android.presplash_color = #FFFFFF
# (string) Presplash animation using Lottie format.
# see https://lottiefiles.com/ for examples and https://airbnb.design/lottie/
# for general documentation.
# Lottie files can be created using various tools, like Adobe After Effect or Synfig.
#android.presplash_lottie = "path/to/lottie/file.json"
# (str) Adaptive icon of the application (used if Android API level is 26+ at runtime)
#icon.adaptive_foreground.filename = %(source.dir)s/data/icon_fg.png
#icon.adaptive_background.filename = %(source.dir)s/data/icon_bg.png
# (list) Permissions
android.permissions = INTERNET, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION, ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,INTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
# (list) features (adds uses-feature -tags to manifest)
#android.features = android.hardware.usb.host
# (int) Target Android API, should be as high as possible.
android.api = 33
# (int) Minimum API your APK / AAB will support.
#android.minapi = 21
# (int) Android SDK version to use
#android.sdk = 20
# (str) Android NDK version to use
android.ndk = 23b
# (int) Android NDK API to use. This is the minimum API your app will support, it should usually match android.minapi.
#android.ndk_api = 21
# (bool) Use --private data storage (True) or --dir public storage (False)
android.private_storage = True
# (str) Android NDK directory (if empty, it will be automatically downloaded.)
#android.ndk_path =
# (str) Android SDK directory (if empty, it will be automatically downloaded.)
android.sdk_path = /home/mark/Android/Sdk
# (str) ANT directory (if empty, it will be automatically downloaded.)
#android.ant_path =
# (bool) If True, then skip trying to update the Android sdk
# This can be useful to avoid excess Internet downloads or save time
# when an update is due and you just want to test/build your package
android.skip_update = True
# (bool) If True, then automatically accept SDK license
# agreements. This is intended for automation only. If set to False,
# the default, you will be shown the license when first running
# buildozer.
android.accept_sdk_license = True
# (str) Android entry point, default is ok for Kivy-based app
#android.entrypoint = org.kivy.android.PythonActivity
# (str) Full name including package path of the Java class that implements Android Activity
# use that parameter together with android.entrypoint to set custom Java class instead of PythonActivity
#android.activity_class_name = org.kivy.android.PythonActivity
# (str) Extra xml to write directly inside the <manifest> element of AndroidManifest.xml
# use that parameter to provide a filename from where to load your custom XML code
#android.extra_manifest_xml = ./src/android/extra_manifest.xml
# (str) Extra xml to write directly inside the <manifest><application> tag of AndroidManifest.xml
# use that parameter to provide a filename from where to load your custom XML arguments:
#android.extra_manifest_application_arguments = ./src/android/extra_manifest_application_arguments.xml
# (str) Full name including package path of the Java class that implements Python Service
# use that parameter to set custom Java class instead of PythonService
#android.service_class_name = org.kivy.android.PythonService
# (str) Android app theme, default is ok for Kivy-based app
# android.apptheme = "#android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar"
# (list) Pattern to whitelist for the whole project
#android.whitelist =
# (str) Path to a custom whitelist file
#android.whitelist_src =
# (str) Path to a custom blacklist file
#android.blacklist_src =
# (list) List of Java .jar files to add to the libs so that pyjnius can access
# their classes. Don't add jars that you do not need, since extra jars can slow
# down the build process. Allows wildcards matching, for example:
# OUYA-ODK/libs/*.jar
#android.add_jars = foo.jar,bar.jar,path/to/more/*.jar
# (list) List of Java files to add to the android project (can be java or a
# directory containing the files)
#android.add_src =
# (list) Android AAR archives to add
#android.add_aars =
# (list) Put these files or directories in the apk assets directory.
# Either form may be used, and assets need not be in 'source.include_exts'.
# 1) android.add_assets = source_asset_relative_path
# 2) android.add_assets = source_asset_path:destination_asset_relative_path
#android.add_assets =
# (list) Gradle dependencies to add
#android.gradle_dependencies =
# (bool) Enable AndroidX support. Enable when 'android.gradle_dependencies'
# contains an 'androidx' package, or any package from Kotlin source.
# android.enable_androidx requires android.api >= 28
#android.enable_androidx = False
# (list) add java compile options
# this can for example be necessary when importing certain java libraries using the 'android.gradle_dependencies' option
# see https://developer.android.com/studio/write/java8-support for further information
# android.add_compile_options = "sourceCompatibility = 1.8", "targetCompatibility = 1.8"
# (list) Gradle repositories to add {can be necessary for some android.gradle_dependencies}
# please enclose in double quotes
# e.g. android.gradle_repositories = "maven { url 'https://kotlin.bintray.com/ktor' }"
#android.add_gradle_repositories =
# (list) packaging options to add
# see https://google.github.io/android-gradle-dsl/current/com.android.build.gradle.internal.dsl.PackagingOptions.html
# can be necessary to solve conflicts in gradle_dependencies
# please enclose in double quotes
# e.g. android.add_packaging_options = "exclude 'META-INF/common.kotlin_module'", "exclude 'META-INF/*.kotlin_module'"
#android.add_packaging_options =
# (list) Java classes to add as activities to the manifest.
#android.add_activities = com.example.ExampleActivity
# (str) OUYA Console category. Should be one of GAME or APP
# If you leave this blank, OUYA support will not be enabled
#android.ouya.category = GAME
# (str) Filename of OUYA Console icon. It must be a 732x412 png image.
#android.ouya.icon.filename = %(source.dir)s/data/ouya_icon.png
# (str) XML file to include as an intent filters in <activity> tag
#android.manifest.intent_filters =
# (str) launchMode to set for the main activity
#android.manifest.launch_mode = standard
# (list) Android additional libraries to copy into libs/armeabi
#android.add_libs_armeabi = libs/android/*.so
#android.add_libs_armeabi_v7a = libs/android-v7/*.so
#android.add_libs_arm64_v8a = libs/android-v8/*.so
#android.add_libs_x86 = libs/android-x86/*.so
#android.add_libs_mips = libs/android-mips/*.so
# (bool) Indicate whether the screen should stay on
# Don't forget to add the WAKE_LOCK permission if you set this to True
#android.wakelock = False
# (list) Android application meta-data to set (key=value format)
#android.meta_data =
# (list) Android library project to add (will be added in the
# project.properties automatically.)
#android.library_references =
# (list) Android shared libraries which will be added to AndroidManifest.xml using <uses-library> tag
#android.uses_library =
# (str) Android logcat filters to use
android.logcat_filters = *:S python:D
# (bool) Android logcat only display log for activity's pid
#android.logcat_pid_only = False
# (str) Android additional adb arguments
#android.adb_args = -H host.docker.internal
# (bool) Copy library instead of making a libpymodules.so
#android.copy_libs = 1
# (list) The Android archs to build for, choices: armeabi-v7a, arm64-v8a, x86, x86_64
# In past, was `android.arch` as we weren't supporting builds for multiple archs at the same time.
android.archs = arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a
# (int) overrides automatic versionCode computation (used in build.gradle)
# this is not the same as app version and should only be edited if you know what you're doing
# android.numeric_version = 1
# (bool) enables Android auto backup feature (Android API >=23)
android.allow_backup = True
# (str) XML file for custom backup rules (see official auto backup documentation)
# android.backup_rules =
# (str) If you need to insert variables into your AndroidManifest.xml file,
# you can do so with the manifestPlaceholders property.
# This property takes a map of key-value pairs. (via a string)
# Usage example : android.manifest_placeholders = [myCustomUrl:\"org.kivy.customurl\"]
# android.manifest_placeholders = [:]
# (bool) disables the compilation of py to pyc/pyo files when packaging
# android.no-compile-pyo = True
# (str) The format used to package the app for release mode (aab or apk or aar).
# android.release_artifact = aab
# (str) The format used to package the app for debug mode (apk or aar).
# android.debug_artifact = apk
#
# Python for android (p4a) specific
#
# (str) python-for-android URL to use for checkout
#p4a.url =
# (str) python-for-android fork to use in case if p4a.url is not specified, defaults to upstream (kivy)
#p4a.fork = kivy
# (str) python-for-android branch to use, defaults to master
#p4a.branch = master
# (str) python-for-android specific commit to use, defaults to HEAD, must be within p4a.branch
#p4a.commit = HEAD
# (str) python-for-android git clone directory (if empty, it will be automatically cloned from github)
p4a.source_dir = /home/mark/python-for-android
# (str) The directory in which python-for-android should look for your own build recipes (if any)
#p4a.local_recipes =
# (str) Filename to the hook for p4a
#p4a.hook =
# (str) Bootstrap to use for android builds
# p4a.bootstrap = sdl2
# (int) port number to specify an explicit --port= p4a argument (eg for bootstrap flask)
#p4a.port =
# Control passing the --use-setup-py vs --ignore-setup-py to p4a
# "in the future" --use-setup-py is going to be the default behaviour in p4a, right now it is not
# Setting this to false will pass --ignore-setup-py, true will pass --use-setup-py
# NOTE: this is general setuptools integration, having pyproject.toml is enough, no need to generate
# setup.py if you're using Poetry, but you need to add "toml" to source.include_exts.
#p4a.setup_py = false
# (str) extra command line arguments to pass when invoking pythonforandroid.toolchain
#p4a.extra_args =
#
# iOS specific
#
# (str) Path to a custom kivy-ios folder
#ios.kivy_ios_dir = ../kivy-ios
# Alternately, specify the URL and branch of a git checkout:
ios.kivy_ios_url = https://github.com/kivy/kivy-ios
ios.kivy_ios_branch = master
# Another platform dependency: ios-deploy
# Uncomment to use a custom checkout
#ios.ios_deploy_dir = ../ios_deploy
# Or specify URL and branch
ios.ios_deploy_url = https://github.com/phonegap/ios-deploy
ios.ios_deploy_branch = 1.10.0
# (bool) Whether or not to sign the code
ios.codesign.allowed = false
# (str) Name of the certificate to use for signing the debug version
# Get a list of available identities: buildozer ios list_identities
#ios.codesign.debug = "iPhone Developer: <lastname> <firstname> (<hexstring>)"
# (str) The development team to use for signing the debug version
#ios.codesign.development_team.debug = <hexstring>
# (str) Name of the certificate to use for signing the release version
#ios.codesign.release = %(ios.codesign.debug)s
# (str) The development team to use for signing the release version
#ios.codesign.development_team.release = <hexstring>
# (str) URL pointing to .ipa file to be installed
# This option should be defined along with `display_image_url` and `full_size_image_url` options.
#ios.manifest.app_url =
# (str) URL pointing to an icon (57x57px) to be displayed during download
# This option should be defined along with `app_url` and `full_size_image_url` options.
#ios.manifest.display_image_url =
# (str) URL pointing to a large icon (512x512px) to be used by iTunes
# This option should be defined along with `app_url` and `display_image_url` options.
#ios.manifest.full_size_image_url =
[buildozer]
# (int) Log level (0 = error only, 1 = info, 2 = debug (with command output))
log_level = 2
# (int) Display warning if buildozer is run as root (0 = False, 1 = True)
warn_on_root = 1
# (str) Path to build artifact storage, absolute or relative to spec file
# build_dir = ./.buildozer
# (str) Path to build output (i.e. .apk, .aab, .ipa) storage
# bin_dir = ./bin
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# List as sections
#
# You can define all the "list" as [section:key].
# Each line will be considered as a option to the list.
# Let's take [app] / source.exclude_patterns.
# Instead of doing:
#
#[app]
#source.exclude_patterns = license,data/audio/*.wav,data/images/original/*
#
# This can be translated into:
#
#[app:source.exclude_patterns]
#license
#data/audio/*.wav
#data/images/original/*
#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Profiles
#
# You can extend section / key with a profile
# For example, you want to deploy a demo version of your application without
# HD content. You could first change the title to add "(demo)" in the name
# and extend the excluded directories to remove the HD content.
#
#[app#demo]
#title = My Application (demo)
#
#[app:source.exclude_patterns#demo]
#images/hd/*
#
# Then, invoke the command line with the "demo" profile:
#
#buildozer --profile demo android debug
I don't know what other debugging tools I should employ. Any pointers much appreciated.