Repository: flutter
Issue: On failed Gradle commands, tool is showing incorrect Kotlin fix
Labels: platform-android,tool,a: build,a: error message,has reproducible steps,P2,team-android,triaged-android,found in release: 3.16,found in release: 3.18

In multiple failed Gradle builds, users are seeing a suggestion to update their KGP version, when this is not the cause of the failure. We should either remove [the handler](https://github.com/flutter/flutter/blob/c530276f7806c77da2541c518a0e103c9bb44f10/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/android/gradle_errors.dart#L432) that shows this Flutter fix or fix the issue that causes this handler to show this incorrect Flutter fix.

One way to reproduce is below, a second way to reproduce: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/142578

### Steps to reproduce

1. Set up the app for Android release mode: https://docs.flutter.dev/deployment/android#configure-signing-in-gradle
1. Remove your `android/key.properties` file if you've already added it
1. Try to build an APK in release mode (`flutter build apk`)

### Expected results

Build fails with `SigningConfig "release" is missing required property "storeFile".`. (Or, an even better error message if possible.)

### Actual results

Flutter Fix evaluates this as a Kotlin Gradle plugin version mismatch and reports:

```
┌─ Flutter Fix ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [!] Your project requires a newer version of the Kotlin Gradle plugin.                     │
│ Find the latest version on https://kotlinlang.org/docs/releases.html#release-details, then │
│ update /Users/filiph/dev/catalogue/android/build.gradle:                                   │
│ ext.kotlin_version = '<latest-version>'                                                    │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

This message is at the very end of the output, and looks more authoritative than the previous `SigningConfig` error. It almost sent me on a wild goose chase.

### Code sample

<details open><summary>Code sample</summary>

Any working Flutter app.

</details>


### Screenshots or Video

_No response_

### Logs

<details open><summary>Logs</summary>

```console
FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

* What went wrong:
Execution failed for task ':app:packageRelease'.
> A failure occurred while executing com.android.build.gradle.tasks.PackageAndroidArtifact$IncrementalSplitterRunnable
   > SigningConfig "release" is missing required property "storeFile".

* 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 https://help.gradle.org

BUILD FAILED in 23s
Running Gradle task 'assembleRelease'...                           24.5s

┌─ Flutter Fix ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [!] Your project requires a newer version of the Kotlin Gradle plugin.                     │
│ Find the latest version on https://kotlinlang.org/docs/releases.html#release-details, then │
│ update /Users/filiph/dev/catalogue/android/build.gradle:                                   │
│ ext.kotlin_version = '<latest-version>'                                                    │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

</details>


### Flutter Doctor output

<details open><summary>Doctor output</summary>

```console
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.16.3, on macOS 13.6.1 22G313 darwin-arm64, locale en-US)
    • Flutter version 3.16.3 on channel stable at /Users/filiph/fvm/versions/stable
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision b0366e0a3f (9 days ago), 2023-12-05 19:46:39 -0800
    • Engine revision 54a7145303
    • Dart version 3.2.3
    • DevTools version 2.28.4

[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 33.0.0-rc1)
    • Android SDK at /Users/filiph/Library/Android/sdk
    • Platform android-33, build-tools 33.0.0-rc1
    • Java binary at: /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents/jbr/Contents/Home/bin/java
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 17.0.7+0-17.0.7b1000.6-10550314)
    • All Android licenses accepted.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 15.0)
    • Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
    • Build 15A240d
    • CocoaPods version 1.14.2

[✓] Chrome - develop for the web
    • Chrome at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome

[✓] Android Studio (version 2023.1)
    • Android Studio at /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents
    • Flutter plugin can be installed from:
      🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
    • Dart plugin can be installed from:
      🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 17.0.7+0-17.0.7b1000.6-10550314)

[✓] VS Code (version 1.82.2)
    • VS Code at /Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents
    • Flutter extension version 3.78.0

[✓] Connected device (2 available)
    • macOS (desktop) • macos  • darwin-arm64   • macOS 13.6.1 22G313 darwin-arm64
    • Chrome (web)    • chrome • web-javascript • Google Chrome 120.0.6099.109

[✓] Network resources
    • All expected network resources are available.

• No issues found!

```

</details>