When does the error message "The Dynatrace Android Gradle Plugin can only be applied to Android projects" typically appear?

The error message "The Dynatrace Android Gradle Plugin can only be applied to Android projects" indicates that the plugin is specifically designed for Android projects. This message appears when there is an attempt to apply the plugin in a project that is not configured as an Android application. The plugin relies on the Android Gradle framework and its components to function properly, and applying it outside of this context leads to the error message being triggered.

When trying to integrate the Dynatrace plugin, only projects set up as Android applications with the necessary Android Gradle environment can successfully use the plugin. Any deviation from this, such as using the plugin in a purely Java, Kotlin, or other project types that do not include Android elements, will result in the aforementioned error.

Therefore, the key reason this message is encountered is the incompatibility of the plugin with non-Android project setups.