[FIXED] Execution failed for task ':app:mergeDebugResources' , Unable to locate resourceFile in source-sets

Issue

Whenever I made any change to an XML file from the project and tried to run it, I got this error-

Execution failed for task ':app:mergeDebugResources'. java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Unable to locate resourceFile (D:Q\app\build\intermediates\merged-not-compiled-resources\debug\layout\notification_action.xml) in source-sets.

For running the project I need to do Build > Clean Project every time if I make any changes to XML.

Below is my grade file -

plugins {
    id 'com.android.application'
}

android {
    compileSdk 32

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "xxxxx"
        minSdk 21
        targetSdk 32
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"

        testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
    }

    buildTypes {
        debug {
            minifyEnabled true
            shrinkResources true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
        release {
            minifyEnabled true
            shrinkResources true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
    compileOptions {
        sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
        targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
    }
}

dependencies {
    implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.4.1'
    implementation 'com.google.android.material:material:1.6.0'
    implementation 'androidx.constraintlayout:constraintlayout:2.1.3'
    testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.13.2'
    androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.ext:junit:1.1.3'
    androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.4.0'
    implementation 'com.github.ybq:Android-SpinKit:1.4.0'


}

Solution

I found by several testing that proguard rule is the issue for this error. Changing the proguard rules for debug solves the issue. Just need to set shrinkResources false in the debug buildTypes.

 buildTypes {
        debug {
            minifyEnabled true
            shrinkResources false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
}

Answered By - K M Rejowan Ahmmed
Answer Checked By - Candace Johnson (JavaFixing Volunteer)