npm plugin fails in the presence of `base-files`
Metadata
Current evaluation
Cross-part staging rejects directory-vs-symlink collisions such as npm's bin/lib and base-files' usrmerge links; the valid repro remains unresolved and affects more than the npm plugin.
Suggested action: keep open
Reason: @bepri supplied a nil-plugin-only reproducer for the same bin conflict, showing the report is not npm-specific, and @cmatsuoka explicitly noted that #1004 was not merged and asked whether the problem still occurs. Current paths_collide() logic still treats any symlink-versus-non-symlink pair as conflicting, so there is no evidence of resolution, although defining safe coexistence semantics requires nontrivial design work.
Evaluated by: mr-cal-bot
Impact:
57
Quick Win:
14
Complexity:
67
Confidence:
88
Actionability:
76
Issue body
### Bug Description
See https://github.com/canonical/rockcraft/issues/790 . The issue seems to be that the `lib/` directory created by the npm plugin conflicts with the `lib` symlink to `usr/lib` created by base-files (same for `bin/` and `usr/bin`).
### To Reproduce
Create a package.json file with these contents:
```
{
"name": "app",
"version": "0.0.0",
"private": true,
"scripts": {
"start": "node ./bin/www"
},
"dependencies": {
"cookie-parser": "~1.4.4",
"debug": "~2.6.9",
"express": "~4.16.1",
"http-errors": "~1.6.3",
"jade": "~1.11.0",
"morgan": "~1.9.1"
}
}
```
Create the described rockcraft.yaml, and run `rockcraft pack`. It should give the following output:
```
Failed to stage: parts list the same file with different contents or permissions.
Detailed information: Parts 'npm-part' and 'base-files-part' list the following files, but with different contents or permissions:
bin
lib
Failed to execute rockcraft in instance.
```
### part yaml
```shell
name: demo
title: demo
version: '0.1'
summary: summary
description: lib dir issue demo
base: bare
build-base: ubuntu@24.04
platforms:
amd64:
parts:
npm-part:
plugin: npm
npm-include-node: true
npm-node-version: node
source: .
base-files-part:
plugin: nil
stage-packages:
- base-files
```
### Relevant log output
```shell
2025-01-31 10:30:03.451 :: 2025-01-31 10:30:03.122 craft_parts.errors.PartFilesConflict: Failed to stage: parts list the same file with different contents or permissions.
2025-01-31 10:30:03.451 :: 2025-01-31 10:30:03.122 Parts 'npm-part' and 'base-files-part' list the following files, but with different contents or permissions:
2025-01-31 10:30:03.451 :: 2025-01-31 10:30:03.122 bin
2025-01-31 10:30:03.451 :: 2025-01-31 10:30:03.122 lib
```
Evaluation history
| Date | Model | Scores | Action | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
57
Quick Win:
14
Complexity:
67
Confidence:
88
Actionability:
76
|
keep open | Cross-part staging rejects directory-vs-symlink collisions such as npm's bin/lib and base-files' usrmerge links; the valid repro remains unresolved and affects more than the npm plugin. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Impact:
60
Quick Win:
14
Complexity:
70
Confidence:
70
Actionability:
80
|
keep open | npm plugin creates bin/lib directories that conflict with base-files symlinks, causing staging failures. Unresolved since Jan 2025; PR #1004 attempt was abandoned. | |
| qwen/qwen3.8-27b |
Impact:
55
Quick Win:
14
Staleness:
25
Complexity:
75
Confidence:
75
Support Request:
5
|
keep open | npm plugin (and any part creating bin/lib dirs) conflicts with base-files' bin/lib symlinks at staging, breaking rockcraft pack. Triaged (internal ticket); prototype fix #1004 unmerged; maintainer re-asked reporter 10 days ago if still reproducible, awaiting reply. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
10
Complexity:
40
Confidence:
85
Support Request:
5
|
keep open | Staging conflict between npm plugin and base-files due to bin/lib directory clashes. Validated as a real bug with a linked Jira ticket, currently awaiting maintainer status update on a previous fix attempt. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
90
Complexity:
60
Confidence:
90
Support Request:
10
|
needs triage | Bug where npm and nil plugins conflict with base-files during staging due to overlapping bin and lib directories. Unlabeled, inactive for over a year, awaiting maintainer triage. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
60
Confidence:
80
Support Request:
5
|
needs triage | Staging conflict between npm/nil plugin directories and base-files symlinks. Reported over a year ago with clear reproduction steps, but lacks maintainer labels, assignment, or response. |
Update history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| updated | |
| updated |
Related work
-
Related To:
canonical/craft-parts#1004
(confidence 98%)
An npm-specific symlink prototype was closed unmerged and is the solution attempt cited by the maintainer.
-
Related To:
canonical/rockcraft#790
(confidence 95%)
Original Rockcraft report explicitly referenced by this issue.
Related issues
No related issues found above the similarity threshold.