microsoft / microsoft/Windows-Containers

MSVC does not support long paths inside Docker container

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PowerShell
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Description

Describe the bug
Apparently MSVC does not support long paths inside a Docker container. On the host, it works perfectly fine.

To Reproduce
I've prepared a minimal repo: https://github.com/jdoubleu/msvc-docker-bug
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

  1. clone the above repo
  2. run docker build -t msvc-docker-bug .

The Dockerfile should be self-explanatory.

Expected behavior
The second compilation from the Dockerfile should work just as fine as the first one.

The behavior should match the host environment, where MSVC does not have any issues working with long paths. Even when long path support has not been enabled system-wide.

Configuration:

  • Edition: Windows 11 Pro (10.0.22631 Build 22631)
  • Base Image being used: mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:ltsc2022
  • Container engine: docker
  • Container Engine version: Docker version 27.5.1, build 9f9e405

Additional information:
Related issue: https://github.com/microsoft/Windows-Containers/issues/361

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the Dockerfile in the linked minimal reproduction repository and run docker build -t msvc-docker-bug . on the stated Windows Server Core base image. Compare the first and second compilations, then review the related Windows-Containers issue for context. Done means the second compilation succeeds inside the container, matching the host behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
docker
Domain
infrastructure, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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