> to build a modern java project with gradle [...] it just works.

That's the thing - it "just works" if you're on a "modern" Java project, if it uses Gradle, and if it uses it properly. Most of the Java projects I've had pleasure on working profesionally were not on that standard of quality.

You may argue that it's up to developers to keep build system simple, but in that case C++ tooling also "just works" because you can build a modern C++ project that uses CMake in two commands.

Good tooling prevents the project build process from becoming an undocumented Rube Goldberg's machine.

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