diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2ed9dbadc..69a281045 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -226,3 +226,9 @@ CLAUDE.md
 .claude
 port-plan.md
 port-todo.md
+spine-libgdx/spine-libgdx/.settings/org.eclipse.buildship.core.prefs
+spine-libgdx/spine-libgdx/.settings/org.eclipse.jdt.apt.core.prefs
+spine-libgdx/spine-libgdx-tests/.settings/org.eclipse.buildship.core.prefs
+spine-libgdx/spine-libgdx-tests/.settings/org.eclipse.jdt.apt.core.prefs
+spine-libgdx/spine-skeletonviewer/.settings/org.eclipse.buildship.core.prefs
+spine-libgdx/spine-skeletonviewer/.settings/org.eclipse.jdt.apt.core.prefs
diff --git a/spine-libgdx/build.gradle b/spine-libgdx/build.gradle
index 8ffb2a150..cb2d483ff 100644
--- a/spine-libgdx/build.gradle
+++ b/spine-libgdx/build.gradle
@@ -56,10 +56,18 @@ allprojects {
         mavenCentral()
     }
 
+    dependencies {
+        annotationProcessor 'com.github.bsideup.jabel:jabel-javac-plugin:0.4.2'
+        compileOnly 'com.github.bsideup.jabel:jabel-javac-plugin:0.4.2'
+    }
+
     tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach {
-        sourceCompatibility = '1.8'
-        targetCompatibility = '1.8'
-        options.release.set(8)
+        sourceCompatibility = 17 // for the IDE support
+        options.release = 8
+
+        javaCompiler = javaToolchains.compilerFor {
+            languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(17)
+        }
     }
 }