Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Tanguy LE CARROUR]

Hi Guix!

I don’t know if it’s a new problem, but this morning, when I reconfigured my
Guix home, it failed! 😱

```shell
$ guix home reconfigure tanguy.scm
# […]
building /gnu/store/nc193nbh3g5bnh33a4m316j8xzr2z5b9-files.drv...
-builder for `/gnu/store/nc193nbh3g5bnh33a4m316j8xzr2z5b9-files.drv' failed with exit code 1
build of /gnu/store/nc193nbh3g5bnh33a4m316j8xzr2z5b9-files.drv failed
View build log at '/var/log/guix/drvs/nc/193nbh3g5bnh33a4m316j8xzr2z5b9-files.drv.gz'.
cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/1hb5klscb2hhc2gyx797vsvpyhazjngq-home.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built
guix home: error: build of `/gnu/store/1hb5klscb2hhc2gyx797vsvpyhazjngq-home.drv' failed

$ gunzip -c /var/log/guix/drvs/nc/193nbh3g5bnh33a4m316j8xzr2z5b9-files.drv.gz
Backtrace:
           2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")
In ice-9/eval.scm:
    619:8  1 (_ #f)
In unknown file:
           0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)

ERROR: In procedure symlink:
In procedure symlink: Permission denied

# The files mentioned do not exist…
$ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?
$ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?

# But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
$ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder

$ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
```

Is anyone having the same problem or is it just me?

-- 
Tanguy

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Simon Tournier]

Hi Tanguy,

On Tue, 21 May 2024 at 11:38, Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> wrote:

>            2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")

[...]

>            0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)

[...]

> # But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
> $ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
> /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
>
> $ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
> /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> ```

Yeah, the character ’?’ is only to point that the string is cut.

The two files are:

    /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
    /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config


Now, why there is an issue with the symlink of these files is another
story. :-)

Have solved this issue since then?

Cheers,
simon

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Tanguy LE CARROUR]

Hi Simon,

Quoting Simon Tournier (2024-06-04 21:24:10)
> On Tue, 21 May 2024 at 11:38, Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> wrote:
> 
> >            2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")
> [...]
> >            0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)
> [...]
> > # But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
> > $ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
> > /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
> >
> > $ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
> > /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> > ```
> 
> Yeah, the character ’?’ is only to point that the string is cut.
> 
> The two files are:
> 
>     /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
>     /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> 
> 
> Now, why there is an issue with the symlink of these files is another
> story. :-)

Whyyyyy! 😭
I tried reverting to an older version of my `home.scm`, without luck. 😞


> Have solved this issue since then?

No! But… I’ve found a workaround! 😎 … I’ve just stopped using Guix Home! 😅
Yeah, it’s a **BIT** radical, but I can live with old style config file editing
and no package updates for a while… I hope! 🤞 And if I need a newer package, I
can still add it to a profile, a shell or my system.
But, not knowing how to properly debug Guile by myself is starting to be a problem…

Regards.

-- 
Tanguy

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Nils Landt]

> Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> hat am 06.06.2024 08:49 CEST geschrieben:
> 
>  
> Hi Simon,
> 
> Quoting Simon Tournier (2024-06-04 21:24:10)
> > On Tue, 21 May 2024 at 11:38, Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> wrote:
> > 
> > >            2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")
> > [...]
> > >            0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)
> > [...]
> > > # But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
> > > $ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
> > > /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
> > >
> > > $ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
> > > /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> > > ```
> > 
> > Yeah, the character ’?’ is only to point that the string is cut.
> > 
> > The two files are:
> > 
> >     /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
> >     /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> > 
> > 
> > Now, why there is an issue with the symlink of these files is another
> > story. :-)
> 
> Whyyyyy! 😭
> I tried reverting to an older version of my `home.scm`, without luck. 😞
> 
> 
> > Have solved this issue since then?
> 
> No! But… I’ve found a workaround! 😎 … I’ve just stopped using Guix Home! 😅
> Yeah, it’s a **BIT** radical, but I can live with old style config file editing
> and no package updates for a while… I hope! 🤞 And if I need a newer package, I
> can still add it to a profile, a shell or my system.
> But, not knowing how to properly debug Guile by myself is starting to be a problem…

I think /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config is a file you generate, right? Using home-files-service-type, or some service that extends it.
If so, try to see where you want it to be symlinked to. Maybe the target file exists twice in your guix home configuration, or it exists in your home directory but is owned by root?

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Tanguy LE CARROUR]

Hi Nils,


Quoting Nils Landt (2024-06-06 11:02:31)
> > Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> hat am 06.06.2024 08:49 CEST geschrieben:
> > Quoting Simon Tournier (2024-06-04 21:24:10)
> > > On Tue, 21 May 2024 at 11:38, Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> wrote:
> > > 
> > > >            2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")
> > > [...]
> > > >            0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)
> > > [...]
> > > > # But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
> > > > $ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
> > > > /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
> > > >
> > > > $ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
> > > > /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> […]
> I think /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config is a file you
> generate, right? Using home-files-service-type, or some service that extends
> it.
> If so, try to see where you want it to be symlinked to. Maybe the target file
> exists twice in your guix home configuration, or it exists in your home
> directory but is owned by root?

mmmm… 🤔… oh, you’re right! 😁

The content of `*-file-builder` was not super helpful, but the content of
`*-config` looked a lot like my Sway configuration. So, I checked and…
I found a conflict, indeed! Thanks!!
Even though, IMHO, the error handling could be improved… a little.

Oh and reverting to a previous version of my config file didn’t help for
the problem came from a new file, recursively copied from a folder.

Case closed! Thanks again!

-- 
Tanguy

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Nils Landt]

> Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> hat am 06.06.2024 13:14 CEST geschrieben:
>
> Case closed! Thanks again!
> 
> -- 
> Tanguy

Happy to hear you managed to fix it. Sorry I didn't catch this when you originally asked for help 2½ weeks ago.

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Tanguy LE CARROUR]

Quoting Nils Landt (2024-06-06 13:19:53)
> > Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> hat am 06.06.2024 13:14 CEST geschrieben:
> >
> > Case closed! Thanks again!
> 
> Happy to hear you managed to fix it. Sorry I didn't catch this when you
> originally asked for help 2½ weeks ago.

No problem! It was no emergency and I had things to keep me busy, so…! 😁

Thanks again!

-- 
Tanguy

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hi Tanguy,

Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> skribis:

> Quoting Simon Tournier (2024-06-04 21:24:10)
>> On Tue, 21 May 2024 at 11:38, Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> wrote:
>> 
>> >            2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")
>> [...]
>> >            0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)
>> [...]
>> > # But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
>> > $ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
>> > /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
>> >
>> > $ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
>> > /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
>> > ```
>> 
>> Yeah, the character ’?’ is only to point that the string is cut.
>> 
>> The two files are:
>> 
>>     /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
>>     /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
>> 
>> 
>> Now, why there is an issue with the symlink of these files is another
>> story. :-)
>
> Whyyyyy! 😭
> I tried reverting to an older version of my `home.scm`, without luck. 😞

It would be great if you could reduce your Home config to something
small that reproduces the bug.  ‘guix home build home.scm’ is enough to
reproduce this bug and it doesn’t have any side effect.

Most likely it has to do with what gets passed to
‘home-files-service-type’.

Thanks,
Ludo’.

Re: Guix home reconfigure fails with "In procedure symlink: permission denied"

[Tanguy LE CARROUR]

Hi Ludo’,


Quoting Ludovic Courtès (2024-06-11 17:45:07)
> Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> skribis:
> 
> > Quoting Simon Tournier (2024-06-04 21:24:10)
> >> On Tue, 21 May 2024 at 11:38, Tanguy LE CARROUR <tanguy@bioneland.org> wrote:
> >> 
> >> >            2 (primitive-load "/gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?")
> >> [...]
> >> >            0 (symlink "/gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?" ?)
> >> [...]
> >> > # But files with longer names exist! Could the problem be the `?` caracter?
> >> > $ ls /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6?*
> >> > /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
> >> >
> >> > $ ls /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-?*
> >> > /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> >> > ```
> >> 
> >> Yeah, the character ’?’ is only to point that the string is cut.
> >> 
> >> The two files are:
> >> 
> >>     /gnu/store/fvly06ac6y0c01r8zavc2m1zfk6pvhn9-files-builder
> >>     /gnu/store/676qwqy15al2zi7a5s4kb1lwjr6yxqpf-config
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Now, why there is an issue with the symlink of these files is another
> >> story. :-)
> >
> > Whyyyyy! 😭
> > I tried reverting to an older version of my `home.scm`, without luck. 😞
> 
> It would be great if you could reduce your Home config to something
> small that reproduces the bug.  ‘guix home build home.scm’ is enough to
> reproduce this bug and it doesn’t have any side effect.
> 
> Most likely it has to do with what gets passed to
> ‘home-files-service-type’.

Thanks to Nils and Simon, I was able to solve the problem.
A file in `home-files-service-type` was in conflict with one of my `home-service`.
But it was not obvious from the error message.
I cannot really reproduce with a simple `home.scm`, for the following works as
expected:

```
$ cat home.scm
(use-modules (gnu home) (gnu home services) (guix gexp))

(home-environment
  (services
    (list
      (service home-xdg-configuration-files-service-type
        `(("fontconfig/fonts.conf" ,(local-file "fontconfig" #:recursive? #t)))))))

$ guix home build home.scm
guix home: error: duplicate '.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf' entry for files/
```

?! 🤔


Thanks anyway!


-- 
Tanguy