Resolve dynamic deps versions in gradle

[simPod]

What would you like Renovate to be able to do?

In build.gradle I do this:

apply from: rootProject.file('gradle/dependencies.gradle')

dependencies {
    annotationProcessor dep.log4jCore
}

gradle/dependencies.gradle:

def versions = [
    log4j                  : '2.17.+',
]

ext.dep = [
    log4jCore              : "org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core:$versions.log4j",
]

I'd like Renovate bot to be able to pick log4j version and update it automatically.

Or is there another way to declare deps version in similar manner that Renovate supports?

Is this a feature you are interested in implementing yourself?

No

[viceice]

I think you should prefer gadle versions catalog, which is already supported by renovate

https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/platforms.html#sub::toml-dependencies-format

[rarkins]

Is there a long term reason to use gradle this way instead of v7's central dependencies file?

[simPod]

I'll certainly try to use https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/platforms.html#sub::toml-dependencies-format

[simPod]

@viceice Does it have to be in toml? I have implemented it in groovy and Renovate onboarding says:

* `Failed to look up dependency log4j-core:org.apache.logging.log4j`

for

dependencyResolutionManagement {
    repositories {
        mavenCentral()
    }

    versionCatalogs {
        libs {
            def log4j = '2.17.+'

            library('log4j-core', 'org.apache.logging.log4j', 'log4j-core').version(log4j)
        }
    }
}

[viceice]

i think we only support the toml file.

[simPod]

Are there any plans to support Groovy or Kotlin since they're the main languages people use for Gradle definitions?

[rarkins]

In short: maybe not. We certainly don't want to have to execute kotlin or groovy code just to work out what dependencies you're using when there's a simpler alternative having toml

[simPod]

Understand, will try to move to toml then. Having Renovate working is more worth than using common language/format.
BTW not sure if I overlooked it but there's not much about it in docs. E.g. Having "supports only TOML" mention might help new users.