Android studio - ndk_build_command failing on Clean task

Issue

I recently checked out a project originally built under Windows (using JNI) in my Studio on Ubuntu

When I run a clean task, I see an error when it tries to execute what seems to be a Windows ndk-clean command

org.gradle.process.internal.ExecException: A problem occurred starting process 'command 'C:UsersTishuAppDataLocalAndroidandroid-ndk-r8e-windows-x86_64android-ndk-r8endk-build.cmd

I am not sure what triggers this command but it happens on this task: 'externalNativeBuildCleanDebug'

I have searched in my project for references to 'AppData' and found few in this file: project/.externalNativeBuilds/ndkbuild/debug/mips/ndkBuild_build_commands.txt

This file contains windows related information, starting with

Executable : C:\Users\Tishu\AppData\Local\Android\android-ndk-r8e-windows-x86_64\android-ndk-r8e\ndk-build.cmd

Problem is I cannot find this file in Files or in Studio. The .externalNativeBuilds folder doesn't show. I have this is my build.gradle

externalNativeBuild {
    ndkBuild {
        path 'src/main/jni/Android.mk'
    }
}

And the Android.mk file contains only

LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_ALLOW_UNDEFINED_SYMBOLS=false
LOCAL_MODULE := jpgexif
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := JpgExif.c
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/usr/lib -llog
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)

How do I disable this step, or update it to be relevant for my platform?

Solution

It sounds to me like either of these things have happened:

1. Someone checked the .externalNativeBuild directory into the repo, which they shouldn't have done. The build tools should generate that directory for you locally. If you can't see the directory in the file explorer, press Ctrl+H, or whatever the command is to show hidden files. Then delete the directory and trigger a gradle sync. Or just remove it from a terminal window.

2. Someone checked the local.properties file into the repo, and in it they set the ndk.dir property to a Windows path. Again, this file should probably not be part of your shared repository. If this is what happened you might be able to fix it by editing the file and specifying the correct NDK path for your machine, and then triggering a gradle sync.

Answered By - Michael