ionic android build - not enough memory to start jvm

Question

When trying to create an android apk file using ionic and gradle, i get an error

FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

* What went wrong:
Unable to start the daemon process.
This problem might be caused by incorrect configuration of the daemon.
For example, an unrecognized jvm option is used.
Please refer to the user guide chapter on the daemon at http://gradle.org/docs/2
.2.1/userguide/gradle_daemon.html
Please read the following process output to find out more:
-----------------------
Error occurred during initialization of VM
Could not reserve enough space for object heap
Error: Could not create the Java Virtual Machine.
Error: A fatal exception has occurred. Program will exit.


* Try:
Run with --stacktrace option to get the stack trace. Run with --info or --debug
option to get more log output.

D:\test\platforms\android\cordova\node_modules\q\q.js:126
                    throw e;
                          ^
Error code 1 for command: cmd with args: /s /c "D:\test\platforms\android\gradle
w cdvBuildDebug -b D:\test\platforms\android\build.gradle -Dorg.gradle.daemon=tr
ue"
ERROR building one of the platforms: Error: D:\test\platforms\android\cordova\bu
ild.bat: Command failed with exit code 1
You may not have the required environment or OS to build this project
Error: D:\test\platforms\android\cordova\build.bat: Command failed with exit cod
e 1
    at ChildProcess.whenDone (C:\Users\9923\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\cor
dova\node_modules\cordova-lib\src\cordova\superspawn.js:131:23)
    at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:110:17)
    at maybeClose (child_process.js:1015:16)
    at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (child_process.js:1087:5)

I am trying to do this on a Windows 7 Desktop. My Java memory settings is as below.

D:\test>java -XX:+PrintFlagsFinal -version | findstr /i "HeapSize PermSize Threa
dStackSize"
     intx CompilerThreadStackSize                   = 0               {pd produc
t}
    uintx ErgoHeapSizeLimit                         = 0               {product}
    uintx HeapSizePerGCThread                       = 87241520        {product}
    uintx InitialHeapSize                          := 67108864        {product}
    uintx LargePageHeapSizeThreshold                = 134217728       {product}
    uintx MaxHeapSize                              := 1044381696      {product}
     intx ThreadStackSize                           = 0               {pd produc
t}
     intx VMThreadStackSize                         = 0               {pd produc
t}
java version "1.8.0_05"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_05-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.5-b02, mixed mode)

I tried setting -Xms and -Xmx at numerous places, but the system is just not able to start it. How do i solve this problem?

I changed the

Added JAVA_OPTS in My Computer > Properties > Environment Variables
Added JAVA_OPTS in dx.bat in android SDK
Added JAVA_OPTS in build.bat inside application folder
Changed JAVA_OPTS in gradle.properties

Please help

Answer 1

This issue was found to be environment specific. Posting the answer only to help those who might have this unfortunate problem.

The problem was solved by installing a 32 bit JDK on the 64 bit Windows 7.

Before installing

1. Remove all the JRE and JDK installation by going to Application Manager
2. Remove all environment variables pertaining to your old Java installation
3. Update / Remove all the Java related entries from the Path variable. (Do not remove the path variable)
4. Restart the system
5. Install the downloaded JDK
6. Go to Environment Variables and add the required keys
7. Update the Path variable to include the JDK bin folder

I do not have a clue why this has happened, but the issue has been resolved.