GNU bug report logs - #24194
GUIX gc - add warning

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "J. Eppler" <j.eppler <at> openmailbox.org>
To: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: GUIX gc - add warning
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2016 19:59:28 -0400

Hello,
 
I used GUIX for the first time and invoked: guix gc. The command deleted
all my bootstrap files (gcc, binutils, findutils etc.). There should be
a warning added to the manual page:

https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/html_node/Invoking-guix-gc.html

I was actually assuming that guix gc removes orphan packages,
build-caches, temporary files etc., but it does not seem to only do that.

Best regards
  J. Eppler

Message #8 received at 24194 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Mark H Weaver <mhw <at> netris.org>
To: 24194 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#24194: GUIX gc - add warning
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2016 01:53:49 -0400

"J. Eppler" <j.eppler <at> openmailbox.org> writes:

> I used GUIX for the first time and invoked: guix gc. The command deleted
> all my bootstrap files (gcc, binutils, findutils etc.). There should be
> a warning added to the manual page:
>
> https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/html_node/Invoking-guix-gc.html
>
> I was actually assuming that guix gc removes orphan packages,
> build-caches, temporary files etc., but it does not seem to only do that.
 
To clarify, J. Eppler was specifically avoiding binary substitutes, so
he spent a lot of time bootstrapping Guix from source code, and was
disappointed to discover that after "guix gc" he had to repeat that
process.

      Mark

Message #11 received at 24194 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
To: "J. Eppler" <j.eppler <at> openmailbox.org>
Cc: 24194 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#24194: GUIX gc - add warning
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:56:20 -0400

On Tue, Aug 09, 2016 at 07:59:28PM -0400, J. Eppler wrote:
> Hello,
>  
> I used GUIX for the first time and invoked: guix gc. The command deleted
> all my bootstrap files (gcc, binutils, findutils etc.). There should be
> a warning added to the manual page:
> 
> https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/html_node/Invoking-guix-gc.html

I think the concept of garbage collector roots should be clarified in
the manual somehow and linked to from 'Invoking guix gc'. Or it could
even go in that section.

I was surprised to find that the string 'gcroots' does not appear in the
manual.

> I was actually assuming that guix gc removes orphan packages,
> build-caches, temporary files etc., but it does not seem to only do that.

In your case, things that are not garbage collector roots (that is, not
reachable from /var/guix/gcroots) could be considered orphans or
temporary. I agree the documentation should be improved.

Message #16 received at 24194-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: ludo <at> gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès)
To: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
Cc: 24194-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org, "J. Eppler" <j.eppler <at> openmailbox.org>
Subject: Re: bug#24194: GUIX gc - add warning
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2017 22:43:28 +0100

Hello,

Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name> skribis:

> On Tue, Aug 09, 2016 at 07:59:28PM -0400, J. Eppler wrote:
>> Hello,
>>  
>> I used GUIX for the first time and invoked: guix gc. The command deleted
>> all my bootstrap files (gcc, binutils, findutils etc.). There should be
>> a warning added to the manual page:
>> 
>> https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/html_node/Invoking-guix-gc.html
>
> I think the concept of garbage collector roots should be clarified in
> the manual somehow and linked to from 'Invoking guix gc'. Or it could
> even go in that section.
>
> I was surprised to find that the string 'gcroots' does not appear in the
> manual.

I’ve now pushed some clarifications:

  https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/guix.git/commit/?id=6a98b9f34e6190a2e1d11bedd5853aa94cf25ca7

Closing!

Thanks,
Ludo’.

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