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snapcraft create-key displays an ugly error when the keys don't match

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Metadata

Project
snapcraft (launchpad)
Number
#1637623
Type
issue
State
open
Author
~elopio
Labels
store ui
Created
Updated
Closed

Current evaluation

snapcraft create-key leaks a raw subprocess error when passphrases don't match. Labeled store/ui, filed by a maintainer, no comments for ~10 years; a related error-message bug was closed as abandoned.

Suggested action: keep open

Reason: The issue is labeled (store, ui) and authored by a maintainer, so it was categorised, and it is a valid, well-scoped minor UI bug with a clear reproducer. The problem is likely still present: the related bug snapcraft (launchpad)#1979907 about the create-key error message was closed as abandoned with the fix never implemented, and there is no evidence of a fix here. It is very stale (~10 years of inactivity) but still applicable since create-key remains in the codebase, so close_stale is not justified.

Impact: 10 Quick Win: 8.5 Staleness: 90 Complexity: 15 Confidence: 60 Support Request: 0

Issue body

To reproduce, run snapcraft create-key and confirm the wrong password. $ snapcraft create-key Passphrase: Confirm passphrase: error: passphrases do not match Command '['snap', 'create-key', 'default']' returned non-zero exit status 1

Evaluation history

Date Model Scores Action Summary
qwen/qwen3.8-27b
Impact: 10
Quick Win: 8.5
Staleness: 90
Complexity: 15
Confidence: 60
Support Request: 0
keep open snapcraft create-key leaks a raw subprocess error when passphrases don't match. Labeled store/ui, filed by a maintainer, no comments for ~10 years; a related error-message bug was closed as abandoned.
qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b
Staleness: 98
Complexity: 15
Confidence: 85
Support Request: 0
close stale CLI command shows raw shell error instead of user-friendly message when passphrases mismatch. Issue remains open with no maintainer comments after nearly 10 years.
qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b
Staleness: 98
Complexity: 15
Confidence: 90
Support Request: 5
close stale snapcraft create-key shows a raw Python traceback instead of a user-friendly error when passphrases do not match. No maintainer response or activity in nearly ten years.
qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6
Staleness: 98
Complexity: 20
Confidence: 90
Support Request: 10
close stale Reports ugly raw command error output when passphrases do not match during snapcraft create-key. Open for nearly a decade with no maintainer interaction or comments.
qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6
Staleness: 98
Complexity: 15
Confidence: 90
Support Request: 5
close stale snapcraft create-key displays a raw command failure message when passphrases do not match instead of a user-friendly error. Open with zero comments and over nine years of inactivity, awaiting triage.

Update history

No update history recorded yet.

Related work

  • Related To: snapcraft (launchpad)#1979907 (confidence 75%)

    Similar create-key error-message bug, closed as abandoned without the wording fix being implemented, suggesting this issue remains unfixed.

  • Related To: snapcraft (launchpad)#1637625 (confidence 45%)

    Separate create-key behaviour complaint (login requirement), same command area.

Related issues

Issue Project State Summary Similarity
#1979907 snapcraft create-key incorrect error message snapcraft (launchpad) closed Abandoned. The incorrect error message in snapcraft create-key for locally created keys was not fixed. The suggested wording update was never implemented.
80%
#1629978 create-key prints no progress snapcraft (launchpad) open snapcraft create-key prints no progress output and can appear stuck while collecting entropy; issue is open, unlabelled, and has no maintainer response.
74%
#1637625 snapcraft create-key doesn't require login, but snapcraft list-keys does snapcraft (launchpad) open CLI inconsistency: create-key works without login but list-keys fails with credential errors. Issue is 9.8 years old with zero comments. The list-keys command has since been removed and replaced by the keys command, which still requires login.
73%
#1816524 snapcraft register-key fails snapcraft (launchpad) open snapcraft 2.43.1 register-key fails with GPG 'Operation cancelled' during snap export-key; 7.5 years old, no labels, zero comments, no maintainer activity; affected 2.x version is long deprecated.
72%