Re: Is it safe to remove debconf cache files in isar system

[Anton Mikanovich <amikan@ilbers.de>]

16.12.2021 10:47, Venkata.Pyla@toshiba-tsip.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am working to fix some reproducible build failures in isar system, as part of this I wanted to know some ideas to fix it.
>
> I am checking the reproducible failures as below:
>   $ cd isar
>   $ . isar-init-build-env build1 && bitbake mc:qemuamd64-buster-tgz:isar-image-base
>   $ . isar-init-build-env build2 && bitbake mc:qemuamd64-buster-tgz:isar-image-base
>   $ mkdir -p rootfs1 rootfs2
>   $ tar -xzvf ./build1/tmp/deploy/images/qemuamd64/isar-image-base-debian-buster-qemuamd64.tar.gz -C ./rootfs1/
>   $ tar -xzvf ./build2/tmp/deploy/images/qemuamd64/isar-image-base-debian-buster-qemuamd64.tar.gz -C ./rootfs2/
>   $ rsync -nrclv ./rootfs1/ ./rootfs2/ > difference.txt
>
> Below is one reproducible problem I picked:
> In debconf db file the contents were different after two subsequent builds,
>
> Part of the debconf db file where the difference is found (/var/cache/debconf/config.dat)
> Build1:
> Name: ucf/changeprompt
> Template: ucf/changeprompt
> Value: keep_current
> Owners: ucf
> Variables:
>   BASENAME = locale.nopurge
>   FILE = /etc/locale.nopurge
>   NEW = /etc/locale.nopurge.29308
>
> Build2:
> Name: ucf/changeprompt
> Template: ucf/changeprompt
> Value: keep_current
> Owners: ucf
> Variables:
>   BASENAME = locale.nopurge
>   FILE = /etc/locale.nopurge
>   NEW = /etc/locale.nopurge.19132
>
> The probable solution I am thinking of is:
> 1. remove the debconf cache files (rm -f /var/cache/debconf/*)
> 2. Fix the debconf in such a way it generates same package configuration on every build
>
> The first solution is easy, but I am worried if those package configuration files maybe required in future when the package is updating
> The second solution would need more investigation at debconf package side.
>
> Any ideas or suggestion would be very grateful.
>
> Thanks,
> Venkata.
>
Because both questions are not really Isar-related, but more 
Debian-related, maybe it's better to duplicate them on 
debian-user@lists.debian.org ?

-- 
Anton Mikanovich
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