Failure when trying to install to an alternative ROOT

[nirbheek.chauhan@…]

When trying to install packages to an alternative ROOT, if the ROOT doesn't have an existing vdb, pkgcore fails as shown:

# ROOT=/mnt/test pmerge -a sed
Error in configuration:
Instantiating default domain 'livefs domain':
Caught exception "initialization failed: lstat failed on base '/mnt/test/var/db/pkg'" instantiating pkgcore.vdb.ondisk.tree

/mnt/test/ was an empty directory before trying

# ls -dl /mnt/test/
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 48 Mar 31 01:54 /mnt/test/

It does work, however, if there's an existing vdb in the alternative ROOT. This is contrary to portage behaviour, which proceeds with glee.

[ferringb]

Yeah, conscious decision to skip portage behaviour on that one. Mainly, if you're installing to $ROOT, the vdb needs to be tracked- if it creates it willy nilly for you, that means you can easily screw up the path resulting in it merging to a screwwy location, and no indication.

Alternatively, a better phrasing- pkgcore generally goes for explicit, rather then implicit. Docs wise, this should be documented, but making it implicit will require enough folk telling me I'm wrong to override me on that one.

[ferringb]

WONTFIX'ing in the interim; as said, if folks gang up on me, I'll reverse my position on it- till then marking this as closed, thanks.