"Unresolved reference: implementation" by using subprojects in kotlin-gradle

I want to split my project into subprojects. The default Gradle setting from the IntelliJ IDE is:

```kotlin
import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile

plugins {
kotlin("jvm") version "1.3.50"
}

group = "project"
version = "0.0.1-SNAPSHOT"

repositories {
mavenCentral()
}

dependencies {
implementation(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
}

tasks.withType<KotlinCompile> {
kotlinOptions.jvmTarget = "1.8"
}
```

That setting compiles. ButI don't want repeat that code in every subproject. So I changed the *build.gradle.kts* to

```kotlin
import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile

subprojects {
plugins {
kotlin("jvm") version "1.3.50"
}

group = "project"
version = "0.0.1-SNAPSHOT"

repositories {
mavenCentral()
}

dependencies {
implementation(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
}

tasks.withType<KotlinCompile> {
kotlinOptions.jvmTarget = "1.8"
}
}
```

but I get the exception:

> e: C:\[...]\build.gradle.kts:1:12: Unresolved reference: jetbrains e:
> C:\[...]\build.gradle.kts:16:9: Unresolved reference: implementation
> e: C:\[...]\build.gradle.kts:19:20: Unresolved reference:
> KotlinCompile e: C:\[...]\build.gradle.kts:19:35: Type mismatch:
> inferred type is () -> Unit but Class<TypeVariable(S)!>! was expected
> e: C:\[...]\build.gradle.kts:20:9: Unresolved reference: kotlinOptions
>
> FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.
>
> * Where: Build file 'C:\[...]\build.gradle.kts' line: 1
>
> * What went wrong: Script compilation errors:
>
> Line 01: import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile
> ^ Unresolved reference: jetbrains
>
> Line 16: implementation(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
> ^ Unresolved reference: implementation
>
> Line 19: tasks.withType<KotlinCompile> {
> ^ Unresolved reference: KotlinCompile
>
> Line 19: tasks.withType<KotlinCompile> {
> ^ Type mismatch: inferred type is () -> Unit but Class<TypeVariable(S)!>! was expected
>
> Line 20: kotlinOptions.jvmTarget = "1.8"
> ^ Unresolved reference: kotlinOptions
>
> 5 errors
>
> * Try: Run with --stacktrace option to get the stack trace. Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output. Run with --scan to get full insights.
>
> * Get more help at

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>
> BUILD FAILED in 1s

I think there is an easy syntax error, but I can't find it.

Is important to define the repositories in `settings.gradle.kts (project)` so that the dependencies of the subprojects are recognized.

## settings.gradle.kts (project) ##

pluginManagement {
repositories {
maven("https://dl.bintray.com/kotlin/kotlin-eap")
mavenCentral()
maven("https://plugins.gradle.org/m2/")
}
}
rootProject.name = "project"

include("app")
___

## build.gradle.kts (project) ##

import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile

plugins {
java
kotlin("jvm") version "1.4-M3" apply false
}

subprojects {
apply {
plugin("org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm")
}

repositories {
maven("https://dl.bintray.com/kotlin/kotlin-eap")
mavenCentral()
}

val implementation by configurations

dependencies {
implementation(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
}

tasks.withType<KotlinCompile> {
kotlinOptions.jvmTarget = "1.8"
}
}

___

To define plugins for each submodule separately use the lambda `apply { plugin("pluginId") }`

## build.gradle.kts (:app) ##

apply {
plugin("org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm")
}

dependencies {
implementation(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
}

GL

Not sure how you're not also getting an error by nesting the `plugins { }` block under `subprojects { }` As stated in [Limitations of the plugins DSL](

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):

> The `plugins {}` block must also be a top level statement in the buildscript. It cannot be nested inside another construct (e.g. an if-statement or for-loop).

So to fix your issues, move the `plugins {}` to the top and imperatively apply the plugins in the `subprojects {}` block:


import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile

plugins {
kotlin("jvm") version "1.3.50" apply false
}

subprojects {
apply {
plugin("org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm")
}

group = "project"
version = "0.0.1-SNAPSHOT"

repositories {
mavenCentral()
}

val implementation by configurations

dependencies {
implementation(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
}

tasks.withType<KotlinCompile> {
kotlinOptions.jvmTarget = "1.8"
}
}

You can read more about the `apply false` part in the [Method details](

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) of `PluginDependenciesSpec` which is the _type_/scope of the `plugins {}` block.

You can read more about the `val implementation by configurations` part in the [Understanding what to do when type-safe model accessors are not available](

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)