Can't get `aboutlibraries.json` inside of `build/generated` to work with CMP resources

[paigely]

I would like to put the generated json file inside of build/generated (because I would rather not have a generated file in my source tree, feels weird,) and then have compose multiplatform pick it up and copy it to the bundle, but I'm not really sure how to do so. I tried this but the file is ignored and the app crashes when trying to access it:

aboutLibraries {
	collect {
		configPath = file("acknowledgements")
	}
	export {
		outputFile = file("build/generated/sources/aboutlibraries/commonMain/kotlin/paige/navic/composeResources/files/acknowledgements.json")
	}
}

This works, though:

		outputFile = file("src/commonMain/composeResources/files/acknowledgements.json")

Is there some way to achieve this?

[mikepenz]

@paigely which version of the library do you use?

If you use com.mikepenz.aboutlibraries.plugin the approach for multiplatform applications (or also just android) is actually to generate the file via CI or whichever fits your flow and then provide it as a resource: https://github.com/mikepenz/AboutLibraries/blob/develop/sample/desktop/build.gradle.kts#L43

That file can exist in this location, or is put there ahead of your compilation task.
https://github.com/mikepenz/AboutLibraries/blob/develop/sample/desktop/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/mikepenz/aboutlibraries/main.kt#L14

Remember the file has to be in a location where gradle will bundle it with your app, if it's in a different location you'll need a custom gradle task or similar hooking to register it as as a resource.

As such it's probably much easier if you commit potentially an empty file (or placeholder file) in your SCM (so you can also test things), and then have it overwritten in the CI with the full version at that location