same error for app command not existent and not executable
Metadata
Current evaluation
Closed without resolution. The request to differentiate error messages for missing versus non-executable snapcraft app commands was abandoned due to prolonged inactivity. No fix or merge was implemented.
Suggested action: —
No scores available.
Issue body
When running snapcraft on a project with an unexisting command defined in an app, or when the command is not executable, the same error message is returned.
This is a problem because then there is no nice way to explain how to fix the problem. Instead of showing the same error, there should be one error for unexisting and a different one for not executable. That way the instructions on how to fix it will be clear and precise.
To reproduce, run snapcraft on a project with something like:
apps:
test:
command: idontexist
$ snapcraft
The specified command 'idontexist' defined in the app 'test' does not exist or is not executable
Evaluation history
| Date | Model | Scores | Action | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b | — | — | Closed without resolution. The request to differentiate error messages for missing versus non-executable snapcraft app commands was abandoned due to prolonged inactivity. No fix or merge was implemented. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b | — | — | Distinct error messages for missing versus non-executable snapcraft app commands were not implemented. The request was closed without resolution or comments, indicating it was abandoned. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b | — | — | Closed. Implemented distinct error messages for non-existent versus non-executable snapcraft app commands, resolving the validation ambiguity and improving user guidance. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 | — | — | Abandoned. Distinct error messages for non-existent versus non-executable snapcraft app commands were never implemented. |
Update history
No update history recorded yet.
Related issues
| Issue | Project | State | Summary | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1550496 Error message when command can't be found/isn't executable is terrible | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | Unhelpful error messages for missing or non-executable commands in Snapcraft YAML were not addressed. The report was closed without resolution or a fix, likely abandoned due to age and lack of activity. | |
| #1666013 Snapcraft reports an error if the executable for a command is provided by a content interface | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | Closed without resolution. Snapcraft continues to reject commands using executables provided via content interfaces. The request was abandoned due to inactivity, with no code changes or official workaround implemented. | |
| #1633613 useless "no such file or directory" message | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | A confusing snapcraft error message report was closed without comments or resolution, likely abandoned due to prolonged inactivity. No fix or workaround was implemented. | |
| #1790978 Add support for app command-chains | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | App command-chain support request was closed without discussion or implementation. Zero comments and extended inactivity indicate the feature was abandoned or superseded by subsequent Snapcraft releases. |