hello-libs native dependency not respected?

[reddwarf69]

If I run this

$ git clone [email protected]:android/ndk-samples.git
Cloning into 'ndk-samples'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 15876, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (265/265), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (141/141), done.
remote: Total 15876 (delta 90), reused 230 (delta 84), pack-reused 15611
Receiving objects: 100% (15876/15876), 51.87 MiB | 4.70 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (8322/8322), done.
$ cd ndk-samples/hello-libs
$ rm -rf distribution 
$ sed -i "s|// include ':gen-libs'|include ':gen-libs'|" settings.gradle
$ sed -i "s|//    api project(':gen-libs')|    api project(':gen-libs')|" app/build.gradle
$ ./gradlew build

I end up with an error like

> Task :app:buildCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a] FAILED
C/C++: ninja: error: '/ndk-samples/hello-libs/distribution/gmath/lib/arm64-v8a/libgmath.a', needed by '/ndk-samples/hello-libs/app/build/intermediates/cxx/Debug/141w5z33/obj/arm64-v8a/libhello-libs.so', missing and no known rule to make it

Since the cmake build in gen-libs doesn't run before the one in app, despite the dependency being specified.

When running with --info, I can see

Selected primary task 'build' from project :
Tasks to be executed: [task ':app:preBuild', task ':app:preDebugBuild', task ':app:mergeDebugNativeDebugMetadata', task ':app:compileDebugAidl', task ':app:compileDebugRenderscript', task ':app:generateDebugBuildConfig', task ':app:javaPreCompileDebug', task ':app:checkDebugAarMetadata', task ':app:generateDebugResValues', task ':app:mapDebugSourceSetPaths', task ':app:generateDebugResources', task ':app:mergeDebugResources', task ':app:createDebugCompatibleScreenManifests', task ':app:extractDeepLinksDebug', task ':gen-libs:preBuild', task ':gen-libs:preDebugBuild', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugRenderscript', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugResValues', task ':gen-libs:extractDeepLinksDebug', task ':app:processDebugMainManifest', task ':app:processDebugManifest', task ':app:processDebugManifestForPackage', task ':gen-libs:checkDebugAarMetadata', task ':gen-libs:mapDebugSourceSetPaths', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugResources', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugResources', task ':gen-libs:createDebugCompatibleScreenManifests', task ':gen-libs:processDebugMainManifest', task ':gen-libs:processDebugManifest', task ':gen-libs:processDebugManifestForPackage', task ':gen-libs:processDebugResources', task ':app:processDebugResources', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugAidl', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugBuildConfig', task ':gen-libs:javaPreCompileDebug', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugJavaWithJavac', task ':gen-libs:bundleDebugClassesToCompileJar', task ':app:compileDebugJavaWithJavac', task ':app:mergeDebugShaders', task ':app:compileDebugShaders', task ':app:generateDebugAssets', task ':app:mergeDebugAssets', task ':app:compressDebugAssets', task ':app:processDebugJavaRes', task ':gen-libs:processDebugJavaRes', task ':app:mergeDebugJavaResource', task ':gen-libs:bundleDebugClassesToRuntimeJar', task ':app:checkDebugDuplicateClasses', task ':app:dexBuilderDebug', task ':app:desugarDebugFileDependencies', task ':app:mergeExtDexDebug', task ':app:mergeDexDebug', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a]', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a]', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[x86]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[x86]', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[x86_64]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[x86_64]', task ':app:externalNativeBuildDebug', task ':app:mergeDebugJniLibFolders', task ':app:mergeDebugNativeLibs', task ':app:stripDebugDebugSymbols', task ':app:validateSigningDebug', task ':app:writeDebugAppMetadata', task ':app:writeDebugSigningConfigVersions', task ':app:packageDebug', task ':app:createDebugApkListingFileRedirect', task ':app:assembleDebug', task ':app:preReleaseBuild', task ':app:compileReleaseAidl', task ':app:compileReleaseRenderscript', task ':app:generateReleaseBuildConfig', task ':app:javaPreCompileRelease', task ':app:checkReleaseAarMetadata', task ':app:generateReleaseResValues', task ':app:mapReleaseSourceSetPaths', task ':app:generateReleaseResources', task ':app:mergeReleaseResources', task ':app:createReleaseCompatibleScreenManifests', task ':app:extractDeepLinksRelease', task ':gen-libs:preReleaseBuild', task ':gen-libs:compileReleaseRenderscript', task ':gen-libs:generateReleaseResValues', task ':gen-libs:extractDeepLinksRelease', task ':app:processReleaseMainManifest', task ':app:processReleaseManifest', task ':app:processReleaseManifestForPackage', task ':gen-libs:checkReleaseAarMetadata', task ':gen-libs:mapReleaseSourceSetPaths', task ':gen-libs:generateReleaseResources', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseResources', task ':gen-libs:createReleaseCompatibleScreenManifests', task ':gen-libs:processReleaseMainManifest', task ':gen-libs:processReleaseManifest', task ':gen-libs:processReleaseManifestForPackage', task ':gen-libs:processReleaseResources', task ':app:processReleaseResources', task ':gen-libs:compileReleaseAidl', task ':gen-libs:generateReleaseBuildConfig', task ':gen-libs:javaPreCompileRelease', task ':gen-libs:compileReleaseJavaWithJavac', task ':gen-libs:bundleReleaseClassesToCompileJar', task ':app:compileReleaseJavaWithJavac', task ':app:extractProguardFiles', task ':app:lintVitalAnalyzeRelease', task ':app:lintVitalReportRelease', task ':app:lintVitalRelease', task ':app:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[arm64-v8a]', task ':app:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[arm64-v8a]', task ':app:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[armeabi-v7a]', task ':app:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[armeabi-v7a]', task ':app:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86]', task ':app:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86]', task ':app:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86_64]', task ':app:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86_64]', task ':app:externalNativeBuildRelease', task ':app:mergeReleaseJniLibFolders', task ':app:mergeReleaseNativeLibs', task ':app:stripReleaseDebugSymbols', task ':app:extractReleaseNativeSymbolTables', task ':app:mergeReleaseNativeDebugMetadata', task ':gen-libs:bundleReleaseClassesToRuntimeJar', task ':app:checkReleaseDuplicateClasses', task ':app:dexBuilderRelease', task ':app:desugarReleaseFileDependencies', task ':app:mergeExtDexRelease', task ':app:mergeDexRelease', task ':app:mergeReleaseArtProfile', task ':app:compileReleaseArtProfile', task ':app:mergeReleaseShaders', task ':app:compileReleaseShaders', task ':app:generateReleaseAssets', task ':app:mergeReleaseAssets', task ':app:compressReleaseAssets', task ':app:processReleaseJavaRes', task ':gen-libs:processReleaseJavaRes', task ':app:mergeReleaseJavaResource', task ':app:optimizeReleaseResources', task ':app:collectReleaseDependencies', task ':app:sdkReleaseDependencyData', task ':app:writeReleaseAppMetadata', task ':app:writeReleaseSigningConfigVersions', task ':app:packageRelease', task ':app:createReleaseApkListingFileRedirect', task ':app:assembleRelease', task ':app:assemble', task ':app:bundleDebugClassesToCompileJar', task ':app:preDebugAndroidTestBuild', task ':app:processDebugAndroidTestManifest', task ':app:compileDebugAndroidTestRenderscript', task ':app:generateDebugAndroidTestResValues', task ':app:lintAnalyzeDebug', task ':app:lintReportDebug', task ':app:lintDebug', task ':app:lint', task ':app:bundleDebugClassesToRuntimeJar', task ':app:preDebugUnitTestBuild', task ':app:javaPreCompileDebugUnitTest', task ':app:compileDebugUnitTestJavaWithJavac', task ':app:processDebugUnitTestJavaRes', task ':app:testDebugUnitTest', task ':app:bundleReleaseClassesToRuntimeJar', task ':app:bundleReleaseClassesToCompileJar', task ':app:preReleaseUnitTestBuild', task ':app:javaPreCompileReleaseUnitTest', task ':app:compileReleaseUnitTestJavaWithJavac', task ':app:processReleaseUnitTestJavaRes', task ':app:testReleaseUnitTest', task ':app:test', task ':app:check', task ':app:build', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugNativeDebugMetadata', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugShaders', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugShaders', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugAssets', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugAssets', task ':gen-libs:compressDebugAssets', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugJavaResource', task ':gen-libs:checkDebugDuplicateClasses', task ':gen-libs:dexBuilderDebug', task ':gen-libs:desugarDebugFileDependencies', task ':gen-libs:mergeExtDexDebug', task ':gen-libs:mergeDexDebug', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeDebug[x86]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeDebug[x86][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeDebug[x86_64]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeDebug[x86_64][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:externalNativeBuildDebug', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugJniLibFolders', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugNativeLibs', task ':gen-libs:stripDebugDebugSymbols', task ':gen-libs:validateSigningDebug', task ':gen-libs:writeDebugAppMetadata', task ':gen-libs:writeDebugSigningConfigVersions', task ':gen-libs:packageDebug', task ':gen-libs:createDebugApkListingFileRedirect', task ':gen-libs:assembleDebug', task ':gen-libs:extractProguardFiles', task ':gen-libs:lintVitalAnalyzeRelease', task ':gen-libs:lintVitalReportRelease', task ':gen-libs:lintVitalRelease', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[arm64-v8a]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[arm64-v8a][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[armeabi-v7a]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[armeabi-v7a][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86_64]', task ':gen-libs:buildCMakeRelWithDebInfo[x86_64][gmath,gperf]', task ':gen-libs:externalNativeBuildRelease', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseJniLibFolders', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseNativeLibs', task ':gen-libs:stripReleaseDebugSymbols', task ':gen-libs:extractReleaseNativeSymbolTables', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseNativeDebugMetadata', task ':gen-libs:checkReleaseDuplicateClasses', task ':gen-libs:dexBuilderRelease', task ':gen-libs:desugarReleaseFileDependencies', task ':gen-libs:mergeExtDexRelease', task ':gen-libs:mergeDexRelease', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseArtProfile', task ':gen-libs:compileReleaseArtProfile', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseShaders', task ':gen-libs:compileReleaseShaders', task ':gen-libs:generateReleaseAssets', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseAssets', task ':gen-libs:compressReleaseAssets', task ':gen-libs:mergeReleaseJavaResource', task ':gen-libs:optimizeReleaseResources', task ':gen-libs:collectReleaseDependencies', task ':gen-libs:sdkReleaseDependencyData', task ':gen-libs:writeReleaseAppMetadata', task ':gen-libs:writeReleaseSigningConfigVersions', task ':gen-libs:packageRelease', task ':gen-libs:createReleaseApkListingFileRedirect', task ':gen-libs:assembleRelease', task ':gen-libs:assemble', task ':gen-libs:preDebugAndroidTestBuild', task ':gen-libs:processDebugAndroidTestManifest', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugAndroidTestRenderscript', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugAndroidTestResValues', task ':gen-libs:lintAnalyzeDebug', task ':gen-libs:lintReportDebug', task ':gen-libs:lintDebug', task ':gen-libs:lint', task ':gen-libs:preDebugUnitTestBuild', task ':gen-libs:javaPreCompileDebugUnitTest', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugUnitTestJavaWithJavac', task ':gen-libs:processDebugUnitTestJavaRes', task ':gen-libs:testDebugUnitTest', task ':gen-libs:preReleaseUnitTestBuild', task ':gen-libs:javaPreCompileReleaseUnitTest', task ':gen-libs:compileReleaseUnitTestJavaWithJavac', task ':gen-libs:processReleaseUnitTestJavaRes', task ':gen-libs:testReleaseUnitTest', task ':gen-libs:test', task ':gen-libs:check', task ':gen-libs:build']
Tasks that were excluded: []

So :gen-libs:buildCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a][gmath gperf] appears after :app:buildCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a].

If I run ./gradlew --info :app:assembleDebug I get

Selected primary task ':app:assembleDebug' from project :app
Tasks to be executed: [task ':app:preBuild', task ':app:preDebugBuild', task ':app:mergeDebugNativeDebugMetadata', task ':app:compileDebugAidl', task ':app:compileDebugRenderscript', task ':app:generateDebugBuildConfig', task ':app:javaPreCompileDebug', task ':app:checkDebugAarMetadata', task ':app:generateDebugResValues', task ':app:mapDebugSourceSetPaths', task ':app:generateDebugResources', task ':app:mergeDebugResources', task ':app:createDebugCompatibleScreenManifests', task ':app:extractDeepLinksDebug', task ':gen-libs:preBuild', task ':gen-libs:preDebugBuild', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugRenderscript', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugResValues', task ':gen-libs:extractDeepLinksDebug', task ':app:processDebugMainManifest', task ':app:processDebugManifest', task ':app:processDebugManifestForPackage', task ':gen-libs:checkDebugAarMetadata', task ':gen-libs:mapDebugSourceSetPaths', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugResources', task ':gen-libs:mergeDebugResources', task ':gen-libs:createDebugCompatibleScreenManifests', task ':gen-libs:processDebugMainManifest', task ':gen-libs:processDebugManifest', task ':gen-libs:processDebugManifestForPackage', task ':gen-libs:processDebugResources', task ':app:processDebugResources', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugAidl', task ':gen-libs:generateDebugBuildConfig', task ':gen-libs:javaPreCompileDebug', task ':gen-libs:compileDebugJavaWithJavac', task ':gen-libs:bundleDebugClassesToCompileJar', task ':app:compileDebugJavaWithJavac', task ':app:mergeDebugShaders', task ':app:compileDebugShaders', task ':app:generateDebugAssets', task ':app:mergeDebugAssets', task ':app:compressDebugAssets', task ':app:processDebugJavaRes', task ':gen-libs:processDebugJavaRes', task ':app:mergeDebugJavaResource', task ':gen-libs:bundleDebugClassesToRuntimeJar', task ':app:checkDebugDuplicateClasses', task ':app:dexBuilderDebug', task ':app:desugarDebugFileDependencies', task ':app:mergeExtDexDebug', task ':app:mergeDexDebug', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[arm64-v8a]', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a]', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[x86]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[x86]', task ':app:configureCMakeDebug[x86_64]', task ':app:buildCMakeDebug[x86_64]', task ':app:externalNativeBuildDebug', task ':app:mergeDebugJniLibFolders', task ':app:mergeDebugNativeLibs', task ':app:stripDebugDebugSymbols', task ':app:validateSigningDebug', task ':app:writeDebugAppMetadata', task ':app:writeDebugSigningConfigVersions', task ':app:packageDebug', task ':app:createDebugApkListingFileRedirect', task ':app:assembleDebug']
Tasks that were excluded: []

So, while some :gen-libs tasks are there, the CMake ones are not.

Somehow the

dependencies {
...
    api project(':gen-libs')
}

doesn't seem to apply to the native builds.

Am I misunderstanding how this is supposed to work?
Is this a bug in the Android Gradle Plugin or in the example?