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Confusing error message when the workspace directory of a junction is missing

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Assessment

Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Newbie friendliness
55/100
Issue type
Bug
Clarity
Mostly clear
Activity status
Active
Tech stack
python
Domain
build-system

Research direction

Reproduce the problem by moving a junction directory, reopening the workspace, and running bst source track for the junction shown in project.conf or its include file. Trace the error reported for the missing workspace directory and adjust the behavior so it no longer gives the misleading instruction to track a junction without a ref; verify both project.conf cases.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

I had a workspace open on a junction, then moved the junction directory. Trying to track a source in the project later gave the current error

project.conf [line 12 column 2]: Subproject has no ref for junction: buildstream-plugins-community.bst

    Try tracking the junction element with `bst source track buildstream-plugins-community.bst`

In this case, here is part of project.conf starting at line 12

- origin: junction
  junction: buildstream-plugins-community.bst
  sources:

@vixalien reported a similar error on matrix:

project.conf [line 33 column 2]: Subproject has no ref for junction: freedesktop-sdk.bst

    Try tracking the junction element with `bst source track freedesktop-sdk.bst`

and in this case, it was an include file from the junction (project.conf starting line 32)

(@):
- freedesktop-sdk.bst:include/runtime.yml

It might be that it only happens if the junction is needed in project.conf

Dominant language
Python
Stars
144
Forks
45
Avg merge
3d 5h
Merged PRs (30d)
6

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