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Insufficient documentation on how to build Rockcraft's documentation

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Metadata

Project
rockcraft
Number
#627
Type
issue
State
open
Author
hd9
Labels
Created
Updated
Closed

Current evaluation

Docs gap: building Rockcraft's docs locally wasn't documented (make installdocs failed on fresh env). The build-docs how-to page now documents the current setup-docs/docs workflow, so the core request appears addressed; a contributor recently asked to be assigned.

Suggested action: keep open

Reason: The reported `make installdocs` failure is obsolete: the docs Makefile was refactored (starter pack refresh #1112, sphinx stack 2.0 #1252) and the build-docs how-to page now documents `make setup-docs` / `make docs` / `make docs-auto` with a spread test (docs/how-to/code/build-docs/task.yaml) verifying a clean-tree build. However, the issue is unlabelled, the reporter's extra ask (a PR-contributing section) is unaddressed, and @gcomneno asked to be assigned 167 days ago with no maintainer response, so it still needs triage/acknowledgement rather than closure.

Impact: 30 Quick Win: 24.0 Staleness: 55 Complexity: 20 Confidence: 70 Support Request: 10

Issue body

### Request type Fix ### What needs to get done It's currently not possible to build Rockcraft's docs website [as described here](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/rockcraft/en/latest/tutorials/node-app/). The reason is, the article makes assumptions that a contributor understands how to get the environment setup. Here's what one would get when running `make installdocs` from the `docs` folder: ``` $ make installdocs . env/bin/activate; sphinx-build -M installdocs "." "_build" -q /bin/sh: 1: .: cannot open env/bin/activate: No such file make: *** [Makefile:49: installdocs] Error 2 ``` Would be nice to have clear instructions on how to build the docs in a fresh environment. For example: - Repo to clone - Any particular branch to use? - Which tools are required to build successfully? What needs to be installed? How? - Where should the `make installdocs` command be run from? In time, why not add a section to this page detailing how to propose your changes in a PR? Thanks! ### Documentation location https://documentation.ubuntu.com/rockcraft/en/latest/how-to/documentation/build-docs/ ### Additional information _No response_

Evaluation history

Date Model Scores Action Summary
qwen/qwen3.8-27b
Impact: 30
Quick Win: 24.0
Staleness: 55
Complexity: 20
Confidence: 70
Support Request: 10
keep open Docs gap: building Rockcraft's docs locally wasn't documented (make installdocs failed on fresh env). The build-docs how-to page now documents the current setup-docs/docs workflow, so the core request appears addressed; a contributor recently asked to be assigned.
qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b
Staleness: 65
Complexity: 20
Confidence: 85
Support Request: 30
needs triage Unlabeled documentation request asking for clear instructions to build Rockcraft docs locally. Currently fails due to missing virtual environment setup. Awaiting maintainer review and assignment.
qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6
Staleness: 80
Complexity: 10
Confidence: 85
Support Request: 10
needs triage Contributor requests clearer local documentation build instructions, noting missing virtualenv setup steps. The issue remains open with no maintainer labels or responses, and an external contributor recently volunteered to address it.
qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6
Staleness: 70
Complexity: 15
Confidence: 85
Support Request: 10
needs triage External contributor requests clearer instructions for building Rockcraft documentation locally. Issue lacks labels and maintainer response, with a recent comment from another contributor asking to be assigned.
qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6
Staleness: 75
Complexity: 10
Confidence: 85
Support Request: 10
needs triage Rockcraft documentation lacks clear local build instructions, causing environment setup failures. Requests explicit steps for prerequisites, commands, and workflow. Currently open and awaiting assignment.

Update history

No update history recorded yet.

Related work

  • Likely Fixed By: rockcraft#1112 (confidence 75%)

    build(docs): refresh starter pack implementation rewrote the docs Makefile (setup-docs/docs targets, .venv) and updated the build-docs how-to, replacing the broken `make installdocs` flow the issue cites.

  • Related To: rockcraft#1252 (confidence 60%)

    docs: update dependency sphinx stack to 2.0 further changed the docs build toolchain referenced by the build-docs page.

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