`snapcraft clean --destructive` does not delete `.craft` directory
Metadata
Current evaluation
Destructive-mode clean leaves the .craft build-state directory behind; the report has an exact reproducer on Snapcraft 8.13.2 but remains untriaged.
Suggested action: needs triage
Reason: The report provides an exact Snapcraft 8.13.2 reproduction: after destructive pack and clean, .craft remains alongside the .snap. Snapcraft's CleanCommand delegates to craft-application, while the destructive clean spread test only checks parts, stage, and prime, so ownership and expected .craft cleanup need investigation. With no labels, comments, or maintainer assessment, this valid, well-scoped report should enter triage.
Evaluated by: mr-cal-bot
Impact:
40
Quick Win:
19
Complexity:
44
Confidence:
89
Actionability:
86
Issue body
### Check existing issues
- [x] I've verified that this bug isn't described by any existing issues.
### Bug description
After `snapcraft pack` is run in destructive mode, running `snapcraft clean --destructive` removes all expected directories except for `.craft`.
### Steps to reproduce
```
root@snapcraft-test:~# cd `mktemp -d`
root@snapcraft-test:/tmp/tmp.9TIyHpcaEM# snapcraft init
See https://documentation.ubuntu.com/snapcraft/stable/reference/project-file for reference information about the snapcraft.yaml format.
Successfully initialised project.
root@snapcraft-test:/tmp/tmp.9TIyHpcaEM# ls -a
. .. snap
root@snapcraft-test:/tmp/tmp.9TIyHpcaEM# snapcraft pack --destructive
Packed my-project_0.1_amd64.snap
root@snapcraft-test:/tmp/tmp.9TIyHpcaEM# ls -a
. .. .craft my-project_0.1_amd64.snap overlay parts prime snap stage
root@snapcraft-test:/tmp/tmp.9TIyHpcaEM# snapcraft clean --destructive
root@snapcraft-test:/tmp/tmp.9TIyHpcaEM# ls -a
. .. .craft my-project_0.1_amd64.snap snap
```
### Environment
Snapcraft 8.13.2 on Ubuntu 24.04 in an LXD container
### snapcraft.yaml
```yaml
```
### Log output
```shell
```
Evaluation history
| Date | Model | Scores | Action | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
40
Quick Win:
19
Complexity:
44
Confidence:
89
Actionability:
86
|
needs triage | Destructive-mode clean leaves the .craft build-state directory behind; the report has an exact reproducer on Snapcraft 8.13.2 but remains untriaged. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
30
Quick Win:
19
Complexity:
28
Confidence:
88
Actionability:
88
|
needs triage | A reproducible Snapcraft 8.13.2 cleanup bug leaves the .craft work directory after a destructive pack/clean cycle; it has no labels, discussion, or identified fix. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Impact:
40
Quick Win:
24
Complexity:
30
Confidence:
75
Actionability:
85
|
keep open | snapcraft clean --destructive fails to delete .craft directory after snapcraft pack --destructive. Clear reproduction steps provided, issue remains open with no maintainer response. | |
| qwen/qwen3.8-27b |
Impact:
30
Quick Win:
22
Staleness:
75
Complexity:
25
Confidence:
70
Support Request:
5
|
needs triage | Bug report: `snapcraft clean --destructive` leaves the `.craft` directory behind after `snapcraft pack --destructive`. Reported by a maintainer with full reproduction steps on Snapcraft 8.13.2; no labels, no comments, no maintainer response in 213 days. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
75
Complexity:
25
Confidence:
75
Support Request:
10
|
needs triage | Unlabelled bug report stating snapcraft clean --destructive fails to remove the .craft directory after packing. No maintainer comments or labels after 172 days. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 |
Staleness:
80
Complexity:
20
Confidence:
75
Support Request:
5
|
needs triage | snapcraft clean --destructive fails to remove the .craft directory after a destructive build. Unlabelled and unresponded to for 158 days. |
Update history
No update history recorded yet.
Related issues
| Issue | Project | State | Summary | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1827191 --destructive-mode is not available in `snapcraft clean` | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | Added --destructive-mode support to snapcraft clean in snapcore/snapcraft PR #2577, enabling host-side project artifact cleanup. |