Non-deterministic native image JSON hints invalidate Gradle build cache

[mmoayyed]

Affects: 6.1.2 (though probably 6.1.x and 6.0.x as well)

When the framework begins to write and produce JSON configuration files for native images, the hints that are collected are written to output files non-deterministically. Testing with Gradle 8.5, if I run the relevant tasks to run the AOT generation process with Spring Boot 3.2.0, the Gradle build scan (when comparing task inputs and outputs, etc) shows that subsequent builds had to run yet again because the output file is different:

In fact, the file content is exactly the same but the order of elements is different. Here is an example where you'd see elements moved around slightly between build A and build B:

It appears that hints need to be sorted somehow, or otherwise be written to the file in a consistent deterministic way so the structure of the file remains the same.

[snicoll]

@mmoayyed Thanks for the report. Please give 6.1.3-SNAPSHOT a try when you get a chance.

[mmoayyed]

Chiming in here quickly to confirm that 6.1.3-SNAPSHOT removes this issue. Thank you @snicoll!