Could not find method provided() for arguments [{group=javax.servlet, name=javax.servlet-api, version=3.1.0}] - gradle

Question

I am getting the following error:
Could not find method provided() for arguments [{group=javax.servlet,
name=javax.servlet-api, version=3.1.0}]
I have tried several different ways and found people with similar issues but with no avail. I added the below dependency but
repositories {
mavenLocal()
mavenCentral()
maven { url "http://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2" }
provided group: 'javax.servlet', name: 'javax.servlet-api', version: '3.1.0'
If I remove the javax.servlet I am back to the orginal error:
Could not find method providedCompile() for arguments [{group=javax.servlet, name=javax.servlet-api, version=3.1.0}]
update 1:
new error after adding:
dependencies {
compileOnly group: 'javax.servlet', name: 'javax.servlet-api', version:'3.1.0'
}
error
> Could not find javax.servlet:servlet-api:3.1.0.
Searched in the following locations:
http://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2/javax/servlet/servlet-api/3.1.0/servlet-api-3.1.0.pom
http://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2/javax/servlet/servlet-api/3.1.0/servlet-api-3.1.0.jar
Required by:
project :
UPDATE:
I added:
allProjects {
apply plugin: 'maven'
apply plugin: 'java'
apply plugin: 'idea'
apply plugin: 'eclipse'
jcenter()
mavenCentral()
version = '0.0.1-SNAPSHOT'
group = 'com.lidl.digital.ecom.ratings'
dependencies {
compileOnly group: 'javax.servlet', name: 'javax.servlet-api', version:'3.1.0'
}
}
And now the error is:
What went wrong: A problem occurred evaluating root project 'product-rating-parent'.
Could not set unknown property 'sourceCompatibility' for object of type org.gradle.api.internal.initialization.DefaultScriptHandler.
I have seen this error prior to fixing this posted question so I am not sure if it is fixed. When I hover over anything in the gradle file it says cannot resolve 'whatever I hover over'

Answer 1

It seems, that you have added your dependency in the wrong place. Dependecies are declared within dependencies block as follows
dependencies {
provided group: 'javax.servlet', name: 'javax.servlet-api', version: '3.1.0'
}
But in your case it's declared within repositories.

Answer 2

There is a difference between what you report as added and your exception:
dependencies {
compileOnly group: 'javax.servlet', name: 'javax.servlet-api', version:'3.1.0'
}
The above is correct, and exists in Maven Central.
However, your error:
Could not find javax.servlet:servlet-api:3.1.0.
Searched in the following locations:
http://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2/javax/servlet/servlet-api/3.1.0/servlet-api-3.1.0.pom
http://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2/javax/servlet/servlet-api/3.1.0/servlet-api-3.1.0.jar
Required by:
project :
It clearly indicates a typo somewhere in the project where the dependency module name is missing the javax. part in front of servlet-api.
So you must have somewhere code like:
dependencies {
compileOnly group: 'javax.servlet', name: 'servlet-api', version:'3.1.0'
}
Notice the missing javax. in the name attribute.