Decoding AEM Analyser Errors: A Practical Guide to Resolving "api-regions-exportsimports"

The Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) platform provides robust tools and frameworks for building and managing digital experiences. However, developers sometimes encounter cryptic errors during the development process, particularly when using the aemanalyser-maven-plugin. One such error is related to api-regions-exportsimports, which can be perplexing. This article delves into the causes and solutions for this error, providing actionable insights to AEM developers .

Understanding the "api-regions-exportsimports" Error

The error message typically looks like this:

[api-regions-exportsimports] importing package(s) com.mywebsite.core.models.test in start level 21 but no bundle is exporting these for that start level.

This error indicates a discrepancy between OSGi bundle dependencies. Specifically, it means that your AEM bundle is importing a package (e.g., com.mywebsite.core.models.test) that isn't being exported by any other bundle at the specified start level (e.g., 21). Essentially, the importing bundle can't find the classes it needs during runtime.

Common Causes

Several factors can lead to this api-regions-exportsimports error:

• Missing Bundle Inclusion: The bundle containing the exported package may not be included in the "all" or container package, preventing it from being deployed to the AEM runtime environment.
• Incorrect Package Export: The bundle intended to export the package might not be correctly configured to do so in its pom.xml file.
• Start Level Issues: The start level of the importing and exporting bundles might be incompatible. Bundles may not be active in the correct order which results in an unresolved dependency.
• Internal Class Usage: An internal class, such as a model interface with its implementation in an internal/model/MyClassImpl directory, may not be properly exposed for use by other bundles.
• Third-Party JAR Embedding Problems: If the missing package is part of a third-party library, it might not be correctly embedded within your project.
• Plugin and Archetype Version Incompatibilities Outdated versions of the aemanalyser-maven-plugin or the AEM archetype can sometimes cause such errors.

Troubleshooting Steps and Solutions

Here’s a structured approach to resolving the api-regions-exportsimports error:

1. Verify Bundle Inclusion in the "All" Package:

   • Ensure that the bundle containing the exported package is included as a dependency in the "all" package's pom.xml.
   • This ensures that the bundle is deployed to the AEM instance.

2. Check Package Export Configuration:

   • Examine the pom.xml of the bundle that should be exporting the package. Verify that the maven-bundle-plugin is configured to export the necessary packages.
   • Here’s an example of a correctly configured export statement:

   <plugin>
       <groupId>org.apache.felix</groupId>
       <artifactId>maven-bundle-plugin</artifactId>
       <extensions>true</extensions>
       <configuration>
           <instructions>
               <Export-Package>
                   com.mywebsite.core.models.*;version=${project.version}
               </Export-Package>
           </instructions>
       </configuration>
   </plugin>
   

3. Review Start Levels:

   • Confirm that the start levels of all involved bundles are appropriate. This is less common, but can cause problems.

4. Embedding Third-Party Libraries:

   • If the package originates from a third-party JAR, ensure it's correctly embedded using the maven-dependency-plugin.

   <plugin>
       <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
       <artifactId>maven-dependency-plugin</artifactId>
       <executions>
           <execution>
               <id>copy-dependencies</id>
               <phase>prepare-package</phase>
               <goals>
                   <goal>copy-dependencies</goal>
               </goals>
               <configuration>
                   <outputDirectory>
                       ${project.build.directory}/classes/OSGI-INF/lib
                   </outputDirectory>
                   <includeScope>runtime</includeScope>
               </configuration>
           </execution>
   </plugin>
   

   • Consider using the Embed-Dependency instruction in the maven-bundle-plugin as an alternative.
   • Refer to external resources, such as this guide to embedding third-party dependencies, for detailed instructions.

5. Update Plugin and Archetype Versions:

   • Ensure you're using the latest versions of the aemanalyser-maven-plugin and the AEM archetype. Outdated versions might have compatibility issues.
   • Check the plugin version in your pom.xml.

   <plugin>
       <groupId>com.adobe.acs</groupId>
       <artifactId>aemanalyser-maven-plugin</artifactId>
       <version>YOUR_LATEST_VERSION</version>
       <executions>
           <execution>
               <id>aem-analyser</id>
               <goals>
                   <goal>analyse</goal>
               </goals>
           </execution>
       </executions>
   </plugin>
   

6. Internal Classes and OSGi Visibility:

   • For internal classes, ensure that they are properly exposed if they need to be accessed by other bundles.
   • If it's a model interface implemented internally, consider whether the interface itself needs to be explicitly exported.

Practical Example

Let's say you have a core bundle exporting models and a ui.content bundle that depends on those models. The api-regions-exportsimports error arises because the ui.content bundle can't see the com.mywebsite.core.models package during runtime.

1. Core Bundle (pom.xml):

   <plugin>
       <groupId>org.apache.felix</groupId>
       <artifactId>maven-bundle-plugin</artifactId>
       <extensions>true</extensions>
       <configuration>
           <instructions>
               <Export-Package>
                   com.mywebsite.core.models.*;version=${project.version}
               </Export-Package>
               <Private-Package>
                   com.mywebsite.core.models.impl
               </Private-Package>
           </instructions>
       </configuration>
   </plugin>
   

2. All Bundle (pom.xml):

   <dependency>
       <groupId>com.mywebsite</groupId>
       <artifactId>core</artifactId>
       <version>${project.version}</version>
   </dependency>
   

By ensuring the core bundle correctly exports the com.mywebsite.core.models package and is included in the "all" package, you resolve the dependency issue.

Leveraging AEM Community and Resources

When facing such errors, the Adobe Experience League Community is an invaluable resource. Engaging with the community, as showcased in the provided content, can provide specific solutions tailored to your scenario.

Conclusion

The api-regions-exportsimports error in AEM development can be a hurdle, but understanding its causes and following a structured troubleshooting approach can lead to effective solutions. By verifying bundle inclusions, checking package export configurations, managing third-party dependencies, and considering other factors such as plugin versions, developers can ensure their AEM projects build and run smoothly. Utilizing resources such as the Adobe Experience League Community will further aid in resolving complex issues, promoting a more efficient development process.