Short-circuit dependency chain if task outputs exist

If you declare a file in inputs.files or outputs.files then gradle will ALWAYS consider the file(s) in the UP-TO-DATE checks.

Adding an outputs.upToDateWhen {} closure does not stop the normal input/output file checking. It simply gives you as a developer another chance to stop the task from being UP-TO-DATE. Returning true from this closure does not override the usual input/output file hash checking.

I get the feeling that you should only use a custom upToDateWhen {} closure and not use inputs.files This will mean that your custom logic is the only thing that’s considered in the UP-TO-DATE check.