Exception java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/aspectj/lang/annotation/Aspect

Question

I recently started working on AspectJ and wrote a simple Aspect for Logging.

I have defined below dependencies into my pom file:

        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.aspectj</groupId>
            <artifactId>aspectjrt</artifactId>
            <version>1.7.1</version>
        </dependency>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.aspectj</groupId>
            <artifactId>aspectjweaver</artifactId>
            <version>1.7.1</version>
        </dependency>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-aspects</artifactId>
        </dependency>

And Following artifacts are present in ear/lib folder:

• aspectjrt-1.7.1.jar
• aspectjweaver-1.7.1.jar
• spring-aspects-3.2.1.RELEASE.jar

I am getting below exception on service startup.:

05:59:18,325 ERROR [org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoader] (MSC service thread 1-15) Context initialization failed: org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'calNamingBean' defined in ServletContext resource [/WEB-INF/helixservicebeans.xml]: BeanPostProcessor before instantiation of bean failed; nested exception is java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/aspectj/lang/annotation/Aspect
                    at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.createBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:452) [spring-beans-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory$1.getObject(AbstractBeanFactory.java:294) [spring-beans-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.getSingleton(DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.java:225) [spring-beans-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.doGetBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:291) [spring-beans-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.getBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:197) [spring-beans-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.registerBeanPostProcessors(AbstractApplicationContext.java:740) [spring-context-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.refresh(AbstractApplicationContext.java:449) [spring-context-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoader.configureAndRefreshWebApplicationContext(ContextLoader.java:385) [spring-web-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoader.initWebApplicationContext(ContextLoader.java:284) [spring-web-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener.contextInitialized(ContextLoaderListener.java:111) [spring-web-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.contextListenerStart(StandardContext.java:3392) [jbossweb-7.0.17.Final.jar:]
                    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.start(StandardContext.java:3850) [jbossweb-7.0.17.Final.jar:]
                    at org.jboss.as.web.deployment.WebDeploymentService.start(WebDeploymentService.java:89) [jboss-as-web-7.1.3.Final.jar:7.1.3.Final]
                    at org.jboss.msc.service.ServiceControllerImpl$StartTask.startService(ServiceControllerImpl.java:1811)
                    at org.jboss.msc.service.ServiceControllerImpl$StartTask.run(ServiceControllerImpl.java:1746)
                    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1145) [rt.jar:1.7.0_45]
                    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:615) [rt.jar:1.7.0_45]
                    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:744) [rt.jar:1.7.0_45]
            Caused by: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/aspectj/lang/annotation/Aspect
                    at org.springframework.aop.aspectj.annotation.AbstractAspectJAdvisorFactory.hasAspectAnnotation(AbstractAspectJAdvisorFactory.java:119) [spring-aop-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.aop.aspectj.annotation.AbstractAspectJAdvisorFactory.isAspect(AbstractAspectJAdvisorFactory.java:115) [spring-aop-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.aop.aspectj.annotation.AnnotationAwareAspectJAutoProxyCreator.isInfrastructureClass(AnnotationAwareAspectJAutoProxyCreator.java:100) [spring-aop-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.aop.framework.autoproxy.AbstractAutoProxyCreator.postProcessBeforeInstantiation(AbstractAutoProxyCreator.java:278) [spring-aop-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]
                    at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.applyBeanPostProcessorsBeforeInstantiation(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:880) [spring-beans-3.1.1.RELEASE.jar:3.1.1.RELEASE]

Edit 1 - I am using JBOSS 7.1 and I think there are some issues with AspejctJ and JBOSS .

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33164216/load-time-weaving-with-aspectj-in-jboss-as-7-1

Answer 1

A NoClassDefFoundError like this in a maven project is usually from a library conflict. There is insufficient information in the question, you only provide a snippet of your pom and don't show the version of spring aspects you are using. You need to run mvn dependency:tree and verify you are using consistent version numbers of all of the aspectj depenendecies.

Edit: There is definitely some kind of library conflict because you mention spring-aspects 3.2.1.RELEASE in the question, but the stack trace contains a lot of references to spring 3.1.1.RELEASE libraries.

Answer 2

java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/aspectj/lang/annotation/Aspect

It seems jar containing class org.aspectj.lang.annotation.Aspect is not loaded from classpath at runtime, can you try removing below dependency:

 <dependency>
     <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
     <artifactId>spring-aspects</artifactId>
 </dependency>

and add below in your classpath:

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-aop</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.1.RELEASE</version>
</dependency>

Answer 3

Answer to your Question

1. If you are using Spring 3.2.1.RELEASE , please change your group id as net.anthavio.maven, I find only aspectjweaver.1.7.4.jar file is presented as a dependency. Please change your dependency for aspectjweaver as 1.7.4 version.
2. It is always recommended to use the Bill of Materials when you are using Spring 3.X and above.
3. I have given an example POM, you can validate accordingly to match with your existing POM.

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" 
         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
    <groupId>com.yourcompany.app</groupId>
    <artifactId>springBOM</artifactId>
    <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>

    <dependencyManagement>
        <dependencies>
            <dependency>
                <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
                <artifactId>spring-framework-bom</artifactId>
                <version>3.2.10.RELEASE</version>
                <type>pom</type>
                <scope>import</scope>
            </dependency>
        </dependencies>
    </dependencyManagement>
    <dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-aop</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-aspects</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-beans</artifactId>
     </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-context-support</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-expression</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-jdbc</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-orm</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-oxm</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-test</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-tx</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-web</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-webmvc</artifactId>
    </dependency>
   </dependencies>
    <build>
        <finalName>springBOM</finalName>
        <plugins>
      <plugin>
        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>3.5.1</version>
        <configuration>
          <source>1.7</source>
          <target>1.7</target>
        </configuration>
      </plugin>
    </plugins>
   </build>
</project>

4. It is recommended to choose Spring-3.2.10.RELEASE version as a standard version at is released on latest than your version mentioned in your question. It applies to this specific context only. Else I would recommend to upgrade your JAR files to Spring 4.X version.

Answer 4

In order to check that your war was wrapped with the suitable jar (aspectrj - that really contain this class -org.aspect.lang.annotation.Aspect).

Try (within eclipse) to add this dependency manually.

right click on the project -> Deployment Assembly -> add -> Archives from file system -> pick the aspectjrt-1.7.1.jar (you can find it in your local .m2 repo). apply run the new war -> now the war should include this dependency. If the error message is gone -> that indicates that something went wrong with war packaging goal.