GNU bug report logs - #42434
Shell can't find basic system tools after massive garbage collection

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407 <at> posteo.ro>
To: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: Shell can't find basic system tools after massive garbage collection
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2020 23:09:09 +0300

Hi,

I run Guix System on my laptop and I wanted to free some space so I ran
all the cleaning stuff I could think of:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
guix package --delete-generations
guix gc --delete-generations
sudo guix system delete-generations
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

After running them all, I had troubles using some of the most basic
tools, like ls or rm. Other programs seemed fine (make, gcc, guix) as I
could compile my builds of dwm and st.

After I ran `guix system reconfigure` and I made sure my profile
contains all the software I need at the latest version by running `guix
package -m` on my manifest, everything went back to normal -- I could
use ls and rm again.

Sadly, I didn't gather more information as I didn't experiment much with
the broken system because I freaked out and tried to fix it as fast as
possible.

I don't know what to make of this. Brett Gilio suggested it may have
been a bad symlink job.

Cheers,
Sergiu

Message #8 received at 42434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Brett Gilio <brettg <at> gnu.org>
To: Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407 <at> posteo.ro>
Cc: 42434 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#42434: Shell can't find basic system tools after massive
 garbage collection
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 18:02:32 -0500

Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407 <at> posteo.ro> writes:

> Hi,
>
> I run Guix System on my laptop and I wanted to free some space so I ran
> all the cleaning stuff I could think of:
>
> guix package --delete-generations
> guix gc --delete-generations
> sudo guix system delete-generations
>
> After running them all, I had troubles using some of the most basic
> tools, like ls or rm. Other programs seemed fine (make, gcc, guix) as I
> could compile my builds of dwm and st.
>
> After I ran `guix system reconfigure` and I made sure my profile
> contains all the software I need at the latest version by running `guix
> package -m` on my manifest, everything went back to normal -- I could
> use ls and rm again.
>
> Sadly, I didn't gather more information as I didn't experiment much with
> the broken system because I freaked out and tried to fix it as fast as
> possible.
>
> I don't know what to make of this. Brett Gilio suggested it may have
> been a bad symlink job.
>
> Cheers,
> Sergiu

I haven't investigated this myself, but on more thought it may also have
to do with some outdated environment variables. Did you happen to reboot
your computer or restart your X/Wayland session anytime after deleting
the old generations and running the garbage collector?

Brett Gilio

Message #13 received at 42434-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407 <at> posteo.ro>
To: Brett Gilio <brettg <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 42434-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#42434: Shell can't find basic system tools after massive
 garbage collection
Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2020 12:38:02 +0300

Hi,

Brett Gilio <brettg <at> gnu.org> writes:

> I haven't investigated this myself, but on more thought it may also have
> to do with some outdated environment variables. Did you happen to reboot
> your computer or restart your X/Wayland session anytime after deleting
> the old generations and running the garbage collector?
>
> Brett Gilio

I ran those commands again on two of my machines that run Guix System
and the problem no longer exists.

Closing.

Cheers,
Sergiu

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