nixos/xserver: keyboard compilation relies on the presence of `/bin/sh`
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- Nix
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Description
Nixpkgs version
- Unstable (25.11)
Describe the bug
Preface: I was experimenting with impermanence-like setup and mounted /bin, /etc, /lib*, /srv and /usr to tmpfs. Since /etc and /usr are always set as neededForBoot (and therefore were intact), /lib* are used purely for warnings, and /srv is empty, i only blame /bin (and, by extension, /bin/sh).
Bug itself: X server failed to launch. According to the logs (sadly, lost), it failed to compile keyboard layouts with xkbcomp. I don't know exactly, whether Xorg or xkbcomp failed (judging by the command, it was fed from stdin).
Steps to reproduce
- Remove
/bin/sh - Run
sx dwm
Expected behaviour
Programs should not rely on /bin/sh
Screenshots
No response
Relevant log output
sadly, none
Additional context
Loosely related issue I've found on Arch forums (but you can see there what kinda errors I've seen): https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=54015
System metadata
Typing from phone, sry
Notify maintainers
Prolly random, but @quantenzitrone @K900 @trofi
Note for maintainers: Please tag this issue in your pull request description. (i.e. Resolves #ISSUE.)
I assert that this issue is relevant for Nixpkgs
- I assert that this is a bug and not a support request.
- I assert that this is not a duplicate of an existing issue.
- I assert that I have read the NixOS Code of Conduct and agree to abide by it.
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Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by reproducing the failure with /bin/sh removed and sx dwm, then trace the X server's xkbcomp invocation and determine which command path requires the shell. The issue provides no source file or test location, so the relevant X server or keyboard-compilation entry point must be located first. Done means keyboard compilation and X server startup work without /bin/sh.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- linux, shell
- Domain
- operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100