Print the error when shelling into the build instance with `--debug`
Metadata
Current evaluation
Fixed by merged PR canonical/craft-application#897 (commit cb109d2c): with --debug, the build/lifecycle error is now printed before the debug shell opens and again after exit, enabled by canonical/craft-cli#381. Tracked internally as CRAFT-4703.
Resolution: closed resolved
Reason: PR #897 ("feat: print error first with --debug") was merged as commit cb109d2c and the maintainer closed the issue citing that PR. The change makes --debug print the part/scriptlet failure before shelling into the build instance and repeat it after the shell exits.
Evaluated by: mr-cal-bot
No scores available.
Issue body
### What needs to get done
The `--debug` flag shells into the build instance in case of an error during the lifecycle, but doesn't show the actual error:
```
❯ snapcraft pack --debug
'override-build' in part 'xkcd' failed with code 1.
Launching shell on build environment...
snapcraft-purugupta99-xkcd-scraper-amd64-33817771 ../project#
exit
'override-build' in part 'xkcd' failed with code 1.
Detailed information:
:: + craftctl default
:: + install -Dm755 src/scrape.py /root/parts/xkcd/install/bin/xkcd_scraper
:: install: cannot stat 'src/scrape.py': No such file or directory
Recommended resolution: Review the scriptlet and make sure it's correct.
For more information, check out: https://documentation.ubuntu.com/snapcraft/8.11.1/reference/plugins/
Failed to run snapcraft in instance
Full execution log: '/home/sergio.schvezov@canonical.com/.local/state/snapcraft/log/snapcraft-20250819-092945.344462.log'
```
### Why it needs to get done
Users will have a better chance of fixing issues if they know what the issue is, presumably.
Evaluation history
| Date | Model | Scores | Action | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha | — | closed resolved | Fixed by merged PR canonical/craft-application#897 (commit cb109d2c): with --debug, the build/lifecycle error is now printed before the debug shell opens and again after exit, enabled by canonical/craft-cli#381. Tracked internally as CRAFT-4703. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha | — | closed resolved | Fixed by merged PR #897 (commit cb109d2c) in craft-application: --debug now prints the build error before opening the shell and repeats it after exit, enabled by craft-cli#381 making report_error public. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha | — | closed resolved | Fixed by merged PR canonical/craft-application#897, commit cb109d2c: --debug now prints the build error before and after the shell. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 | — | — | Resolved via pull request #897 in canonical/craft-application. The --debug flag now displays the actual build error before shelling into the instance, enabling faster troubleshooting. | |
| qwen/qwen3.8-27b |
Impact:
40
Quick Win:
32
Staleness:
55
Complexity:
20
Confidence:
80
Support Request:
0
|
close stale | Request to print the actual build error before/when `--debug` shells into the build instance. Triaged by maintainer; the fix landed in craft-application 5.10.0 (2025-09-10) via PR #897, which now displays the offending error before and after the debug shell. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
75
Complexity:
20
Confidence:
85
Support Request:
0
|
keep open | Feature request to display the actual error message when using the --debug flag during build failures. Issue is triaged but has been inactive for 11 months. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 |
Staleness:
85
Complexity:
15
Confidence:
80
Support Request:
5
|
keep open | Enhancement request to display the actual build error message when shelling into the build instance via the --debug flag. Currently triaged but inactive for over a year. |
Update history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| closed |
Related work
-
Likely Fixed By:
canonical/craft-application#897
(confidence 99%)
Merged PR implementing the fix, commit cb109d2c; cited in the closing comment.
-
Blocked By:
canonical/craft-cli#381
(confidence 70%)
Upstream craft-cli change that gates/enables the new debug error output behaviour.
Related issues
| Issue | Project | State | Summary | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #897 feat: print error first with `--debug` | craft-application | merged | Merged #897 in cb109d2c: --debug now prints build errors before opening the shell and repeats them after exit, enabled by canonical/craft-cli#381. |