Troubleshooting ArangoDB Configuration in Spring Boot: Failed to Create ArangoTemplate and ArangoConverter Beans

 

Introduction:
When working with ArangoDB in a Spring Boot application, configuring the necessary beans for the ArangoTemplate and ArangoConverter is crucial. However, sometimes issues can arise during the setup process, resulting in errors like “Failed to instantiate ArangoTemplate” or “Failed to instantiate ArangoConverter.” In this article, we will explore one common cause of such errors and provide a step-by-step guide to resolve it.

Problem Description:
The specific error message we encounter is: “Failed to instantiate [com.arangodb.springframework.core.convert.ArangoConverter]: Factory method ‘arangoConverter’ threw exception with message: org/springframework/data/convert/EntityInstantiators.” This error indicates a problem with the EntityInstantiators class from the org.springframework.data.convert package.

Solution:
To resolve this issue, we need to ensure that the necessary dependencies are properly configured in our project. Specifically, we need to include the dependency for spring-data-commons. Let’s walk through the steps to fix this problem:

Step 1: Open the project’s pom.xml file:
In your project’s root directory, locate the pom.xml file and open it in your preferred text editor or integrated development environment (IDE).

Step 2: Add the spring-data-commons dependency:
Inside the section of your pom.xml file, add the following dependency:

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-commons</artifactId>
    <version>2.6.0</version> <!-- Replace with the appropriate version -->
</dependency>

Make sure to replace the version number with the appropriate version that is compatible with your project. If you’re unsure about the version, you can visit the Maven Repository (https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/org.springframework.data/spring-data-commons) to find the latest available version.

Step 3: Save the pom.xml file:
After adding the dependency, save the pom.xml file.

Step 4: Rebuild and run the project:
Rebuild your project to ensure that the new dependency is downloaded and included in the classpath. You can usually do this by running the mvn clean install command or using the build functionality provided by your IDE. Once the build is successful, run your Spring Boot application again.

Conclusion:
Configuring ArangoDB in a Spring Boot application requires setting up the necessary beans such as ArangoTemplate and ArangoConverter. When encountering errors like “Failed to instantiate ArangoTemplate” or “Failed to instantiate ArangoConverter” with the message “org/springframework/data/convert/EntityInstantiators,” it indicates a missing dependency. By adding the spring-data-commons dependency to your project’s pom.xml file and ensuring the correct version, you can resolve this issue and successfully create the required beans. Remember to rebuild your project after adding the dependency. With the problem solved, you can continue leveraging the power of ArangoDB in your Spring Boot application seamlessly.