Re: [OE-core][PATCH v3] wic/engine: error on old host debugfs for standalone directory copy

["Yoann Congal" <yoann.congal@smile.fr>]

On Wed Feb 11, 2026 at 2:11 PM CET, Daniel via lists.openembedded.org Dragomir wrote:
> When wic is used in standalone mode, it relies on host tools such as
> debugfs. For directory host->image copies into ext* partitions, wic
> uses scripted debugfs "-f" input with multiple mkdir/write commands.
>
> Older host debugfs versions (< 1.46.5) may behave unreliably in this
> mode and can silently miss files. This does not affect builds using
> debugfs from OE where the version is known to be sufficiently new.
>
> Add a debugfs version check and emit an error when an older host
> debugfs is detected. The error is shown once per run and halts execution.
>
> Changes in v2:
> - adjust the last working debugfs version to 1.46.5
>
> Changes in v3:
> - switch debugfs check from warning to error

Hello,

We missed it during review and this patch has now merge with a minor
problem: the "Changes in" notes are part of the merged commit message.
While precious during review and patch iteration, this info is not
useful once the patch has merged.

For the next patches, please put these notes below the "---" line. This
will prevent them to appear in the final merged commit.

Thanks!
>
> Signed-off-by: Daniel Dragomir <daniel.dragomir@windriver.com>
> ---
>  scripts/lib/wic/engine.py | 29 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 29 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/scripts/lib/wic/engine.py b/scripts/lib/wic/engine.py
> index 565a0db38a..8ca8ed0dbd 100644
> --- a/scripts/lib/wic/engine.py
> +++ b/scripts/lib/wic/engine.py
> @@ -220,6 +220,34 @@ def wic_list(args, scripts_path):
>  
>      return False
>  
> +_DEBUGFS_VERSION = None
> +
> +def debugfs_version_check(debugfs_path, min_ver=(1, 46, 5)):
> +    global _DEBUGFS_VERSION
> +
> +    if _DEBUGFS_VERSION is None:
> +        out = ""
> +        for flag in ("-V", "-v"):
> +            try:
> +                out = exec_cmd(f"{debugfs_path} {flag}")
> +                break
> +            except Exception:
> +                continue
> +
> +        import re
> +        m = re.search(r"(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)", out or "")
> +        _DEBUGFS_VERSION = tuple(map(int, m.groups())) if m else None
> +
> +    ver = _DEBUGFS_VERSION
> +
> +    if ver is not None and ver < min_ver:
> +        raise WicError(
> +            "Sorry, debugfs 1.46.5 or later is required for this script. "
> +            "Older versions of debugfs can make directory copies into ext* partitions "
> +            "via scripted debugfs (-f) unreliable or broken. Detected version: %s"
> +            % (".".join(map(str, ver)) if ver else "unknown")
> +        )
> +
>  
>  class Disk:
>      def __init__(self, imagepath, native_sysroot, fstypes=('fat', 'ext')):
> @@ -334,6 +362,7 @@ class Disk:
>          if self.partitions[pnum].fstype.startswith('ext'):
>              if isinstance(src, str): # host to image case
>                  if os.path.isdir(src):
> +                    debugfs_version_check(self.debugfs)
>                      base = os.path.abspath(src)
>                      base_parent = os.path.dirname(base)
>                      cmds = []


-- 
Yoann Congal
Smile ECS