How to Resolve `java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: javax.validation.BootstrapConfiguration.getClockProviderClassName` Error in Java

What causes the `java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: javax.validation.BootstrapConfiguration.getClockProviderClassName` error in Java, and how can it be resolved?

// Example code that might produce this error
import javax.validation.BootstrapConfiguration;

public class Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        BootstrapConfiguration config = new BootstrapConfiguration(); // This may fail
    }
}

The `java.lang.NoSuchMethodError` is a runtime error that occurs in Java when the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) attempts to call a method that doesn't exist. In this case, the error indicates that the method `getClockProviderClassName()` is missing from the `BootstrapConfiguration` class. This typically arises from the version mismatch between the libraries being used in your project.

// Maven Dependency Example
<dependency>
    <groupId>javax.validation</groupId>
    <artifactId>validation-api</artifactId>
    <version>2.0.1.Final</version> <!-- Ensure this is updated -->
</dependency>

Causes

• Using an outdated version of the `javax.validation` library.
• Classpath conflicts where multiple versions of the same library are present.
• A dependency not correctly declared that leads to an incompatible runtime state.

Solutions

• Update the `javax.validation` library to the latest version that includes the required method.
• Check your project's dependency management files (like `pom.xml` for Maven or `build.gradle` for Gradle) for version conflicts and resolve them by excluding the older versions.
• Clean and rebuild your project to ensure that none of the outdated binaries are causing conflicts.

Mistake: Forgetting to update all transitive dependencies that may rely on an older version of the validation library.

Solution: Use tools such as `mvn dependency:tree` for Maven or `gradle dependencies` to visualize all dependencies and make necessary updates.

Mistake: Not cleaning the project after updating the dependencies, leading to leftover artifacts.

Solution: Run clean commands like `mvn clean` or `gradle clean` to ensure a fresh build.