Spring is not filling other variables when one injected dependency requires a bean in the same class

So, I have the following class:

@Configuration
public class BeansConfig {
@Autowired
private Config config; //Only values of a config file
@Autowired
private JDAListener listener;
@Autowired
private PermissionProvider permissionProvider;
@Autowired
private LanguageProvider languageProvider;
@Autowired
private PrefixProvider prefixProvider;
@Autowired
private HelpProvider helpProvider;
@Bean
public ShardManager shardManager() throws LoginException, IllegalArgumentException {
DefaultShardManagerBuilder builder = DefaultShardManagerBuilder.createDefault(this.config.getBotToken())
.enableIntents(GatewayIntent.GUILD_MEMBERS)
.setMemberCachePolicy(MemberCachePolicy.ALL)
.setStatus(OnlineStatus.IDLE)
.setShardsTotal(this.config.getTotalShards())
.addEventListeners(Arrays.asList(this.listener));
ShardManager manager = builder.build();
this.commandFramework().setShardManager(manager);
return manager;
}
@Bean
public CommandFramework commandFramework() {
LogManager.getLogger().error("HelpProvider name: " + this.helpProvider.getClass().getCanonicalName());
return new FrameworkBuilder()
.addOwners(Arrays.stream(this.config.getOwnerIds()).filter(ownerId -> ownerId.matches("^(\\d)+$")).map(ownerId -> Long.parseLong(ownerId)).collect(Collectors.toList()))
.setLogger(NightBot.logger())
.allowBots(false)
.allowDM(false)
.allowMention(true)
.allowRainbowColors(true)
.withPrefixProvider(this.prefixProvider)
.withLanguageProvider(this.languageProvider)
.withPermissionProvider(this.permissionProvider)
.withHelpProvider(this.helpProvider)
.withCustomArgumentProcessor(new NamedArgumentProcessor())
.registerClientLater()
.build();
}
}

When I try to use this class it fails because of a possible circular reference. I checked the code and found out that all is okay and there should be no circular reference. So I tried out and detected that when the Bean commandFramework is in creation, the injected variables are all null, because of the JDA Listener requiring the CommandFramework as dependency. When the command framework was created with the null values, all works, the Shard Manager can be created with the jda listener and all the other variables then available. So my question is, why does Spring not first inject the providers, then creates the CommandFramework bean, as it requires them, then injects the JDA Listener with the CommandFramework dependency and then at last creates the shard manager? Why is it required that all variables are created so that the bean can be created? Why does it not try to create that bean first before injecting JDAListener.

The Stacktrace

As asked, here the stacktrace:

org.springframework.beans.factory.UnsatisfiedDependencyException: Error creating bean with name 'beansConfig': Unsatisfied dependency expressed through field 'listener'; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.factory.UnsatisfiedDependencyException: Error creating bean with name 'JDAListener': Unsatisfied dependency expressed through field 'cf'; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'commandFramework' defined in class path resource [dev/teamnight/nightbot/BeansConfig.class]: Bean instantiation via factory method failed; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.BeanInstantiationException: Failed to instantiate [dev.teamnight.command.CommandFramework]: Circular reference involving containing bean 'beansConfig' - consider declaring the factory method as static for independence from its containing instance. Factory method 'commandFramework' threw exception; nested exception is java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor$AutowiredFieldElement.inject(AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:643) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.InjectionMetadata.inject(InjectionMetadata.java:130) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.postProcessProperties(AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:399) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.populateBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:1422) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.doCreateBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:594) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.createBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:517) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.lambda$doGetBean$0(AbstractBeanFactory.java:323) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.getSingleton(DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.java:226) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.doGetBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:321) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.getBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:202) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory.preInstantiateSingletons(DefaultListableBeanFactory.java:895) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.finishBeanFactoryInitialization(AbstractApplicationContext.java:878) ~[spring-context-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.refresh(AbstractApplicationContext.java:550) ~[spring-context-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.servlet.context.ServletWebServerApplicationContext.refresh(ServletWebServerApplicationContext.java:143) ~[spring-boot-2.3.0.RELEASE.jar:2.3.0.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refresh(SpringApplication.java:758) ~[spring-boot-2.3.0.RELEASE.jar:2.3.0.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refresh(SpringApplication.java:750) ~[spring-boot-2.3.0.RELEASE.jar:2.3.0.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refreshContext(SpringApplication.java:397) ~[spring-boot-2.3.0.RELEASE.jar:2.3.0.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.run(SpringApplication.java:315) ~[spring-boot-2.3.0.RELEASE.jar:2.3.0.RELEASE]
at dev.teamnight.nightbot.NightBotApplication.main(NightBotApplication.java:53) ~[classes/:na]
Caused by: org.springframework.beans.factory.UnsatisfiedDependencyException: Error creating bean with name 'JDAListener': Unsatisfied dependency expressed through field 'cf'; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'commandFramework' defined in class path resource [dev/teamnight/nightbot/BeansConfig.class]: Bean instantiation via factory method failed; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.BeanInstantiationException: Failed to instantiate [dev.teamnight.command.CommandFramework]: Circular reference involving containing bean 'beansConfig' - consider declaring the factory method as static for independence from its containing instance. Factory method 'commandFramework' threw exception; nested exception is java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor$AutowiredFieldElement.inject(AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:643) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.InjectionMetadata.inject(InjectionMetadata.java:130) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.postProcessProperties(AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:399) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.populateBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:1422) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.doCreateBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:594) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.createBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:517) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.lambda$doGetBean$0(AbstractBeanFactory.java:323) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.getSingleton(DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.java:226) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.doGetBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:321) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.getBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:202) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.config.DependencyDescriptor.resolveCandidate(DependencyDescriptor.java:276) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory.doResolveDependency(DefaultListableBeanFactory.java:1306) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory.resolveDependency(DefaultListableBeanFactory.java:1226) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor$AutowiredFieldElement.inject(AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:640) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
... 18 common frames omitted
Caused by: org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationException: Error creating bean with name 'commandFramework' defined in class path resource [dev/teamnight/nightbot/BeansConfig.class]: Bean instantiation via factory method failed; nested exception is org.springframework.beans.BeanInstantiationException: Failed to instantiate [dev.teamnight.command.CommandFramework]: Circular reference involving containing bean 'beansConfig' - consider declaring the factory method as static for independence from its containing instance. Factory method 'commandFramework' threw exception; nested exception is java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.ConstructorResolver.instantiate(ConstructorResolver.java:656) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.ConstructorResolver.instantiateUsingFactoryMethod(ConstructorResolver.java:484) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.instantiateUsingFactoryMethod(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:1338) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.createBeanInstance(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:1177) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.doCreateBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:557) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.createBean(AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java:517) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.lambda$doGetBean$0(AbstractBeanFactory.java:323) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.getSingleton(DefaultSingletonBeanRegistry.java:226) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.doGetBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:321) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanFactory.getBean(AbstractBeanFactory.java:202) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.config.DependencyDescriptor.resolveCandidate(DependencyDescriptor.java:276) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory.doResolveDependency(DefaultListableBeanFactory.java:1306) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory.resolveDependency(DefaultListableBeanFactory.java:1226) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor$AutowiredFieldElement.inject(AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:640) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
... 31 common frames omitted
Caused by: org.springframework.beans.BeanInstantiationException: Failed to instantiate [dev.teamnight.command.CommandFramework]: Circular reference involving containing bean 'beansConfig' - consider declaring the factory method as static for independence from its containing instance. Factory method 'commandFramework' threw exception; nested exception is java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.SimpleInstantiationStrategy.instantiate(SimpleInstantiationStrategy.java:185) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.ConstructorResolver.instantiate(ConstructorResolver.java:651) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
... 44 common frames omitted
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: null
at dev.teamnight.nightbot.BeansConfig.commandFramework(BeansConfig.java:65) ~[classes/:na]
at dev.teamnight.nightbot.BeansConfig$$EnhancerBySpringCGLIB$$fea6c58e.CGLIB$commandFramework$1(<generated>) ~[classes/:na]
at dev.teamnight.nightbot.BeansConfig$$EnhancerBySpringCGLIB$$fea6c58e$$FastClassBySpringCGLIB$$3b1aec1a.invoke(<generated>) ~[classes/:na]
at org.springframework.cglib.proxy.MethodProxy.invokeSuper(MethodProxy.java:244) ~[spring-core-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassEnhancer$BeanMethodInterceptor.intercept(ConfigurationClassEnhancer.java:331) ~[spring-context-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
at dev.teamnight.nightbot.BeansConfig$$EnhancerBySpringCGLIB$$fea6c58e.commandFramework(<generated>) ~[classes/:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:na]
at java.base/java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:566) ~[na:na]
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.SimpleInstantiationStrategy.instantiate(SimpleInstantiationStrategy.java:154) ~[spring-beans-5.2.6.RELEASE.jar:5.2.6.RELEASE]
... 45 common frames omitted

The Stacktrace says that the helpProvider and that is caused because the BeansConfig class members weren't filled with the specificed providers. But the providers are independent from CommandFramework and ShardManager, so they should be injected.

Why does spring not do this in this order:

1. Try to inject all variables, JDAListener fails, but the providers are injected, JDAListener requires a bean commandFramework
2. Create the bean with the name commandFramework
3. Try again to create JDAListener, now it succeeds
4. Create the bean with name ShardManager

For everyone who comes up with the same problem, here is my solution.

I randomly found some piece of code which I tried out and fixed my problem. I removed the @Autowired private JDAListener listener which required the CommandFramework bean and put it as method paramter for the ShardManager. Now the BeansConfig object can be created and the beans are also created successfully:

@Configuration
public class BeansConfig {
	
	@Autowired
	private Config config;
	
	@Autowired
	private PermissionProvider permissionProvider;
	@Autowired
	private LanguageProvider languageProvider;
	@Autowired
	private PrefixProvider prefixProvider;
	@Autowired
	private HelpProvider helpProvider;
	
	@Bean
	public ShardManager shardManager(JDAListener listener) throws LoginException, IllegalArgumentException {
		DefaultShardManagerBuilder builder = DefaultShardManagerBuilder.createDefault(this.config.getBotToken())
				.enableIntents(GatewayIntent.GUILD_MEMBERS)
				.setMemberCachePolicy(MemberCachePolicy.ALL)
				.setStatus(OnlineStatus.IDLE)
				.setShardsTotal(this.config.getTotalShards())
				.addEventListeners(Arrays.asList(listener));
		
		ShardManager manager = builder.build();
		this.commandFramework().setShardManager(manager);
		
		return manager;
	}
	
	@Bean
	public CommandFramework commandFramework() {
		LogManager.getLogger().error("HelpProvider name: " + this.helpProvider.getClass().getCanonicalName());
		return new FrameworkBuilder()
				.addOwners(Arrays.stream(this.config.getOwnerIds()).filter(ownerId -> ownerId.matches("^(\\d)+$")).map(ownerId -> Long.parseLong(ownerId)).collect(Collectors.toList()))
				.setLogger(NightBot.logger())
				.allowBots(false)
				.allowDM(false)
				.allowMention(true)
				.allowRainbowColors(true)
				.withPrefixProvider(this.prefixProvider)
				.withLanguageProvider(this.languageProvider)
				.withPermissionProvider(this.permissionProvider)
				.withHelpProvider(this.helpProvider)
				.withCustomArgumentProcessor(new NamedArgumentProcessor())
				.registerClientLater()
				.build();
	}
}