First, generate the native image configuration files by running the tests annotated with GenerateNativeImageTrace with native-image-agent.

$ ../gradlew nativeImageConfig

The generation process consists of the following 3 sub-steps:

1. processNativeImageTraces task processes the native image traces generated by running the tests annotated with @GenerateNativeImageTrace. It generates the native image configuration at build/step-1-process-native-image-traces.
2. simplifyNativeImageConfig task simplifies the native image configuration generated by processNativeImageTraces. It generates the cleaned native image configuration at build/step-2-clean-native-image-config.
3. nativeImageConfig task merges the following three configuration directories into the final native image configuration at build/step-3-final-native-image-config:
   • the base configuration at src/base-config
   • the previously generated configuration at ../core/src/main/resources/META-INF/native-image; and
   • the cleaned native image generated at the step 2.

Then, review the generated native image configuration files at build/step-3-final-native-image-config to ensure it doesn't contain any irrelevant entries. You can remove such entries by updating the following places:

• processNativeImageTraces task:
  • the caller-based filters at src/trace-filters/caller-filter.json to filter out entries by call sites.
• simplifyNativeImageConfig task
  • excludedTypePatterns and excludedResourcePatterns properties in build.gradle.kts to filter out entries by call targets.
• nativeImageConfig task
  • the base configuration at src/base-config to add entries manually

You can also annotate more tests classes with @GenerateNativeImageTrace if you find them trigger the code path that should be evaluated by native-image-agent.

If you updated the build configuration or added or removed @GenerateNativeImageTrace annotation, repeat the process from beginning.

Replace the previous configuration with the newly generated one:

$ cp -vf \
    build/step-3-final-native-image-config/*.json \
    ../core/src/main/resources/META-INF/native-image/com.linecorp.armeria/armeria

Review the changes with the tools like git diff and send a pull request.