Solving the “Failed to start bean ‘documentationPluginsBootstrapper'” Error in Spring Boot 2.7.18: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of encountering the “Failed to start bean ‘documentationPluginsBootstrapper'” error when working with Spring Boot 2.7.18? You’re not alone! This frustrating issue has plagued many developers, causing project delays and hair-pulling frustration. But fear not, dear reader, for we’re about to embark on a troubleshooting adventure to conquer this error once and for all!

What’s Causing the Error?

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s understand the root cause of the problem. The “Failed to start bean ‘documentationPluginsBootstrapper'” error typically occurs when there’s a conflict between the Spring Boot version and the Maven or Gradle dependencies. Yep, you read that right – it’s all about compatibility!

Maven Dependencies

If you’re using Maven, the issue might be due to incompatible versions of the Spring Boot dependencies. Here’s an example of incorrect dependencies:

<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-data-rest</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.springfox</groupId>
        <artifactId>springfox-boot-starter</artifactId>
        <version>3.0.0</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Notice the springfox-boot-starter version is set to 3.0.0, which might not be compatible with Spring Boot 2.7.18.

Gradle Dependencies

If you’re using Gradle, the issue could be due to incompatible versions of the Spring Boot dependencies. Here’s an example of incorrect dependencies:

dependencies {
    implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-data-rest'
    implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-web'
    implementation 'io.springfox:springfox-boot-starter:3.0.0'
}

Again, notice the springfox-boot-starter version is set to 3.0.0, which might not be compatible with Spring Boot 2.7.18.

Solutions to the Error

Now that we’ve identified the root cause, let’s explore the solutions to the “Failed to start bean ‘documentationPluginsBootstrapper'” error.

Solution 1: Update Dependencies

The simplest solution is to update the dependencies to compatible versions. For Maven, update your pom.xml file:

<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-data-rest</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.springfox</groupId>
        <artifactId>springfox-boot-starter</artifactId>
        <version>${springfox.version}</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

And in your properties section, add:

<properties>
    <springfox.version>3.0.4</springfox.version>
</properties>

For Gradle, update your build.gradle file:

dependencies {
    implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-data-rest'
    implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-web'
    implementation "io.springfox:springfox-boot-starter:${springfoxVersion}"
}

ext {
    springfoxVersion = '3.0.4'
}

Solution 2: Exclude Documentation Plugins

If updating dependencies doesn’t work, you can try excluding the documentation plugins altogether. For Maven, add the following configuration to your pom.xml file:

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
    <exclusions>
        <exclusion>
            <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-actuator</artifactId>
        </exclusion>
    </exclusions>
</dependency>

For Gradle, add the following configuration to your build.gradle file:

dependencies {
    implementation('org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-web') {
        exclude group: 'org.springframework.boot', module: 'spring-boot-starter-actuator'
    }
}

Solution 3: Downgrade Spring Boot Version

If the above solutions don’t work, you can try downgrading the Spring Boot version to a compatible one. For Maven, update your pom.xml file:

<parent>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.6</version>
</parent>

For Gradle, update your build.gradle file:

plugins {
    id 'org.springframework.boot' version '2.5.6'
}

Conclusion

There you have it, folks! With these solutions, you should be able to overcome the “Failed to start bean ‘documentationPluginsBootstrapper'” error in Spring Boot 2.7.18. Remember to update your dependencies, exclude documentation plugins if needed, or downgrade the Spring Boot version as a last resort.

If you’re still stuck, don’t hesitate to explore other troubleshooting techniques or seek help from the Spring Boot community. Happy coding!

Solution	Description
Update Dependencies	Update Spring Boot dependencies to compatible versions
Exclude Documentation Plugins	Exclude documentation plugins from the project
Downgrade Spring Boot Version	Downgrade Spring Boot version to a compatible one

1. Check your Maven or Gradle dependencies for compatibility issues
2. Update your dependencies to the latest compatible versions
3. Exclude documentation plugins if the issue persists
4. Downgrade the Spring Boot version as a last resort
5. Review the Spring Boot documentation for compatibility guidelines

• Spring Boot 2.7.0 Release Notes
• Spring Boot 2.7.18 Documentation
• Springfox GitHub Repository

Frequently Asked Question

Are you stuck with the annoying “Failed to start bean ‘documentationPluginsBootstrapper'” error in Spring Boot 2.7.18? Worry not, friend! We’ve got you covered with the top 5 questions and answers to get you back on track.