Resolving the Build Error: 'Unrecognized Attribute Name MODULE' in Android Project with Kotlin

What does the build error 'unrecognized Attribute name MODULE' mean in my Android project and how can I resolve it?

The error 'unrecognized Attribute name MODULE' typically occurs in Android projects when using Kotlin's annotation processing (Kapt) after an upgrade to a new Android version, such as Android 12. This issue is often related to incompatibilities between library versions, Gradle tools, or deprecated annotations in the code.

// Example of updating the Kotlin version in build.gradle
android {
    // Previous configurations
}

dependencies {
    classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:<latest_version>"
    // Other dependencies
}

Causes

• Incompatible Kotlin version with the Gradle or Android plugin version.
• Outdated dependencies that may not support the new Android version.
• Incorrect usage of annotations that may have changed or been deprecated in newer Kotlin or Android versions.

Solutions

• Update the Kotlin version in your `build.gradle` file to the latest stable release.
• Ensure that all dependencies, especially annotation processors, are updated to versions compatible with Android 12.
• Check your `build.gradle` for any outdated or incorrect configurations related to Kotlin annotation processing (Kapt).
• Clean your project using `./gradlew clean` and then rebuild to clear any cached states.

Mistake: Not updating libraries when upgrading Android version.

Solution: Always update your libraries when moving to a new Android version to prevent compatibility issues.

Mistake: Failing to clean the project after making changes.

Solution: Run `./gradlew clean` before rebuilding to ensure no cached data is causing problems.

Mistake: Using deprecated annotations in your code.

Solution: Update your code to use the latest annotations supported by the current Kotlin and Android versions.