ResolutionStrategy

ResolutionStrategy is a concept used in software dependency management, particularly in build systems like Apache Maven and Gradle. It refers to the method by which a build system resolves conflicts that arise when multiple versions of a dependency are requested. These conflicts can occur due to transitive dependencies, where a dependency of a dependency may have a different version requirement than the main project.

The resolution strategy determines how the build system selects a single version of a dependency to use. Common strategies include:

1. Nearest Definition: This strategy selects the version of the dependency that is closest to the project in the dependency tree. If a dependency is requested by multiple projects, the version closest to the main project is chosen.

2. First Declaration Wins: This strategy selects the version of the dependency that is declared first in the project's dependency list. If multiple versions are declared, the first one encountered is used.

3. Highest Version: This strategy selects the highest version of the dependency available. This can be useful when you want to ensure that you are using the latest version of a dependency.

4. Lowest Version: This strategy selects the lowest version of the dependency available. This can be useful when you want to ensure compatibility with older versions of dependencies.

5. Fail: This strategy causes the build to fail if a version conflict is detected. This can be useful for ensuring that version conflicts are resolved manually.

The choice of resolution strategy can impact the stability and compatibility of the build. It is important to select a strategy that aligns with the project's requirements and dependencies. In some cases, manual intervention may be necessary to resolve version conflicts that cannot be resolved automatically.