Make generic EasyBlock usable to install software #4531

lexming · 2024-05-13T10:27:14Z

This is quite a big change, it makes the base EasyBlock class usable by adding generic implementations of the missing configure, build and install step.

This is how this works:

easyconfigs that define an easyblock will use that one
easyconfigs with a name that matches an existing easyblock will use that one (i.e. EB_name)
easyconfigs without any specific easyblock will use EasyBlock

Framework will define for each step of the installation the following parameters:

pre_[step]_cmds: list of commands to execute before the main command of the step (analogue in mechanics to postinstallcmds)
pre[step]opts: string to be prepended to main command of the step
[step]_cmd: main command of the step
[step]opts: string to append to main command of the step

Easyconfigs can then define any of the [step]_cmd and then EasyBlock will carry out that step. Otherwise the step is skipped.

Motivation for this change is two-fold:

It becomes much easier to make easyconfigs for non-standard software without their own easyblock:
Basically EasyBlock becomes a CmdCmdCmd easyblock. For instance, I recently had to install something with Bazel that needed a custom ./configure.py for the configure step and bazel build in the build step. With this approach I can do that installation without having to write a new easyblock or hacking other easyblocks not meant for this task.
Provides a standard implementation on how easyblock should carry out each build step:
I initially only implemented the addition of pre[step]cmds parameters to execute commands at the beginning of each step. However, it is extremely weird to define those parameters in framework without any implementation. Custom easyblocks are then free to do whatever they like with those parameters. This PR adds a run_main_step_action method that serves as a reference on how all the parameters should be combined and executed.

Changelog:

add easyconfig parameters: pre_configure_cmds, pre_build_cmds, pre_test_cmds, pre_install_cmds
add easyconfig parameters: configure_cmd, build_cmd, test_cmd, install_cmd
add method easyblock._run_command_stack()
implement easyblock.configure_step() using easyblock._run_command_stack()
implement easyblock.build_step() using easyblock._run_command_stack()
implement easyblock.install_step() using easyblock._run_command_stack()
update easyblock.test_step() using easyblock._run_command_stack()
update easyblock.run_post_install_commands() using easyblock._run_command_stack()
update easyblock.get_easyblock_class() behaviour as follows:
- easyconfigs that define an easyblock will use that one
- easyconfigs with a name that matches an existing easyblock will use that one (i.e. EB_name)
- easyconfigs without any specific easyblock will use EasyBlock
remove unused error_on_failed_import attribute from easyblock.get_easyblock_class()
deprecate easyconfig parameter runtest in favor of test_cmd
standardize format of help strings of all easyconfig parameters

…meters

…ethod to execute stack of commands

…ds and main command with options

…ny easyblock defined

…uild step of the generic EasyBlock

… method

boegel · 2024-05-22T09:33:12Z

I need to give this a detailed review, but in general I quite like this idea to support "easyblock-less" installations.

It lowers the bar to entry for people since this may avoid the need to implement a custom easyblock for simple stuff.

It does perhaps also introduce a risk to encourage producing messier easyconfigs, but it's not like we don't have those already...

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/format/format.py

lexming · 2024-06-07T08:47:27Z

A perfect use case for this PR is easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs#20693

…sable EasyBlock class

…class

…asyBlock class

…h usable EasyBlock class

… EasyBlock class

…ck class

lexming · 2024-06-12T13:50:18Z

Example easyconfig using EasyBlock:

name = 'CORSIKA'
version = '77550'

homepage = "https://www.iap.kit.edu/corsika"
description = """CORSIKA (COsmic Ray SImulations for KAscade) is a program for detailed
simulation of extensive air showers initiated by high energy cosmic ray
particles. Protons, light nuclei up to iron, photons, and many other particles
may be treated as primaries."""

toolchain = {'name': 'foss', 'version': '2023a'}
toolchainopts = {'usempi': True}

download_instructions = "Sources have to be requested to the developers"
sources = [SOURCELOWER_TAR_GZ]
checksums = ['fed74c144e22deb5a7c1d2dc1f04f0100eb2732cb48665a3da49ce471a3775ee']

dependencies = [
    ("ROOT", "6.30.06"),
]

# custom coconut script does not recognize -j
parallel = False

# execute ./coconut manually with your own options and extract configure command from top of config.log
configure_cmd = "./configure"
configopts = "CORDETECTOR=HORIZONTAL CORTIMELIB=TIMEAUTO CORHEMODEL=QGSJETII CORLEMODEL=URQMD "
configopts += "--enable-UPWARD --enable-SLANT --enable-THIN --enable-COREAS "
configopts += "--enable-PARALLEL --with-mpirunner-lib --enable-PARALLELIB "

build_cmd = "./coconut"
buildopts = "--batch"

preinstallopts = "mkdir -p %(installdir)s/bin && "
install_cmd = "cp"
installopts = "%(builddir)s/%(namelower)s-%(version)s/run/%(namelower)s%(version)s* %(installdir)s/bin/"

sanity_check_paths = {
    'files': ['bin/corsika77550Linux_QGSII_urqmd_thin_coreas_parallel'],
    'dirs': []
}

moduleclass = "phys"

Test report for this PR with this example easyconfig:
https://gist.github.com/lexming/776d52d61b8bdce7aa47c068fe092af4

boegel · 2024-06-17T07:10:06Z

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

-            self.log.debug(f"Trying to execute {unit_test_cmd} as a command for running unit tests...")
-            res = run_shell_cmd(unit_test_cmd)
+        if self.cfg['runtest'] is not None:
+            self.log.deprecated("Easyconfig parameter 'runtest' is deprecated, use 'test_cmd' instead.", "6.0")


@lexming This implies updating all easyblocks/easyconfigs to use test_cmd instead of runtest before we release EasyBuild 5.0, so please open an issue on that in both repos and tag it for EasyBuild 5.0

Also, what if both test_cmd and runtest are set?

Either we error out, or we let one overrule the other (with logging).

good point, I suggest to not error out and just ignore runtest if both are defined (with a warning ofc). Fixed in 22d9648

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

boegel · 2024-06-17T07:40:10Z

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

+                "configure",
+                self.cfg['pre_configure_cmds'],
+                self.cfg['preconfigopts'],
+                self.cfg['configopts'],


This looks kind of weird without using named options, since pre_configure_cmd is specified after configure_cmd, so at the very least this should become:

Suggested change

"configure",

self.cfg['pre_configure_cmds'],

self.cfg['preconfigopts'],

self.cfg['configopts'],

'configure',

pre_cmds=self.cfg['pre_configure_cmds'],

pre_opts=self.cfg['preconfigopts'],

post_opts=self.cfg['configopts'],

Even better would be to use only named options, so also use action='self.cfg['configure_cmd']' and action='configure' (and making those both None by default in run_step_main_action and mandatory with an is None check in there.

Also, maybe rename run_step_main_action to run_core_step, and only pass a string like configure, let run_core_step figure out the rest (to use configure_cmd, preconfigopts, etc.)

good idea, it is indeed easy to construct the commands from just the step name. Done in e05a985

boegel · 2024-06-17T07:41:56Z

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

-            self.log.debug(f"Trying to execute {unit_test_cmd} as a command for running unit tests...")
-            res = run_shell_cmd(unit_test_cmd)
+        if self.cfg['runtest'] is not None:
+            self.log.deprecated("Easyconfig parameter 'runtest' is deprecated, use 'test_cmd' instead.", "6.0")


Also, what if both test_cmd and runtest are set?

Either we error out, or we let one overrule the other (with logging).

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

boegel · 2024-06-17T07:44:37Z

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/easyconfig.py

@@ -1858,83 +1860,72 @@ def det_installversion(version, toolchain_name, toolchain_version, prefix, suffi
    _log.nosupport('Use det_full_ec_version from easybuild.tools.module_generator instead of %s' % old_fn, '2.0')


-def get_easyblock_class(easyblock, name=None, error_on_failed_import=True, error_on_missing_easyblock=True, **kwargs):


Don't remove error_on_failed_import, that's API breakage.

At best deprecate it

Well, we can actually break the API between major versions 😉 I re-added it with a deprecation warning nonetheless. Done in eacd6e3

boegel · 2024-06-17T07:47:53Z

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/easyconfig.py

+                raise EasyBuildError(f"Software-specific easyblock '{class_name}' not found for {name}")
+            else:
+                _log.debug(f"Easyblock for {class_name} not found, but ignoring it: {err}")
+        else:


keep the elif error_on_failed_import here?

Done in eacd6e3

Co-authored-by: Kenneth Hoste <kenneth.hoste@ugent.be>

…md that only needs step name to generate and run the core step commands

…lass and deprecate it

lexming · 2024-07-03T07:32:41Z

Test report with last commit and experimental easyconfig for CORSIKA in #4531 (comment)
https://gist.github.com/lexming/13af2faf00baa7f34b6923620b2015fe

== 2024-07-03 09:18:52,337 easyconfig.py:1906 INFO Using generic EasyBlock module for software 'CORSIKA'
== 2024-07-03 09:18:52,338 easyconfig.py:1935 INFO Successfully obtained class 'EasyBlock' for easyblock 'None' (software name 'CORSIKA')
== 2024-07-03 09:18:52,338 easyconfig.py:688 INFO Parsing easyconfig file /rhea/scratch/brussel/101/vsc10122/easybuild/easybuild-easyconfigs/easybuild/easyconfigs/CORSIKA-77550-foss-2023a.eb with rawcontent: name = 'CORSIKA'

boegel

@lexming Ideally we also have a dedicated for this new feature, using the toy software we use in the tests for example, with an easyconfig where we define configure_cmd & co and we make sure that EasyBlock class is used

boegel · 2024-07-03T09:28:13Z

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

+        pre_step_cmds = self.cfg[step_cmd_cfgs[step][0]]
+        if pre_step_cmds:
+            try:
+                self._run_cmds(pre_step_cmds)


Don't we limit the usefulness of pre_configure_cmds by running those commands separately?

Something like export FOO=bar in pre_configure_cmds won't work as expected because it's run in a different shell than configure_cmd, which limits the usefulness of pre_configure_cmds quite a bit I think?

I can see the value though (better errors when one of the commands in pre_configure_cmds fails, for example), but we should try and make it very clear that these commands are running in a different subshell?

boegel · 2024-07-03T09:29:08Z

easybuild/framework/easyblock.py

+            if self.cfg['test_cmd'] is None:
+                self.cfg['test_cmd'] = self.cfg['runtest']
+            else:
+                self.log.warning(


Shouldn't we print a warning here (too), to avoid that this is overlooked easily?

boegel · 2024-07-03T09:31:14Z

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py

@@ -88,9 +88,11 @@
                                      "to be linked in any installed binary/library", BUILD],
    'bitbucket_account': ['%(namelower)s', "Bitbucket account name to be used to resolve template values in source"
                                           " URLs", BUILD],
-    'buildopts': ['', 'Extra options passed to make step (default already has -j X)', BUILD],
+    'buildopts': ['', 'Extra options appended to build command', BUILD],
+    'build_cmd': [None, "Main shell command used in the build step", BUILD],


This should also mention something like "(only used by default build step implemented by EasyBlock class)", or something like that?
As soon as a generic/custom easyblock is used, build_cmd will be totally ignored.
Same goes for configure, test, install

boegel · 2024-07-03T09:31:48Z

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py

-    'postinstallcmds': [[], 'Commands to run after the install step.', BUILD],
-    'postinstallpatches': [[], 'Patch files to apply after running the install step.', BUILD],
-    'postinstallmsgs': [[], 'Messages to print after running the install step.', BUILD],
+    'pre_build_cmds': ['', 'Extra commands executed before main build command', BUILD],


Mention that these are run in a different subshell than the build command itself (no sharing of environment), and only when there's no generic/custom easyblock is used

Same for configure, test, install

boegel · 2024-07-03T09:35:46Z

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/easyconfig.py

+            elif error_on_failed_import:
+                raise EasyBuildError(f"Failed to import '{class_name}' easyblock: {err}")


This doesn't belong here, in this case the easyblock doesn't exist?

boegel · 2025-03-19T10:56:29Z

@lexming I changed to target branch in this PR from 5.0.x to develop, you should synchronize your PR branch with current develop branch (which has received a massive update after the release of EasyBuild v5.0.0, see #4825)

lexming added 13 commits May 13, 2024 00:52

standarize description of pre-step-opts and step-opts easyconfig para…

5bf48e4

…meters

add test and postinstall easyconfig parameters to group format rules

9781455

add new easyconfig parameters to prepend commands to main step commands

6be1579

add pre-step-cmds easyconfig parameters to group format rules

95fed87

update test_dump_order with more parameters for each main step

b51c586

split easyblock.run_post_intall_commands into a new generic private m…

6233cb4

…ethod to execute stack of commands

add new private method to run step action by executing all pre-comman…

32ca373

…ds and main command with options

simplify structure of easyconfig.get_easyblock_class method

5f370cd

use generic EasyBlock as fallback easyblock for easyconfigs without a…

7eafeb7

…ny easyblock defined

add easyconfigs parameters to define the main commands used in each b…

37d0edc

…uild step of the generic EasyBlock

implement default configure, build and install steps in base EasyBlock

39be30a

refactor test step in base EasyBlock to leverage run_step_main_action…

ac2fa7a

… method

fix code style errors

9655dfb

lexming added the EasyBuild-5.0 EasyBuild 5.0 label May 13, 2024

boegel added the change label May 21, 2024

boegel added this to the 5.0 milestone May 21, 2024

boegel added enhancement and removed change labels May 22, 2024

boegel requested changes May 29, 2024

View reviewed changes

easybuild/framework/easyconfig/format/format.py Outdated Show resolved Hide resolved

lexming added 9 commits June 11, 2024 12:58

Merge branch '5.0.x' into pre-step-cmds

74bf3a9

use new parameter name for pre_step commands options

3834170

fix test_iter_builddeps_templates in test.framework.easyconfig with u…

b6d9b3b

…sable EasyBlock class

fix test_easyblock in test.framework.easyblock with usable EasyBlock …

cea4bcd

…class

fix codestyle in easybuild.framework.easyblock

2b39e93

fix test_gen_easyblocks_overview in test.framework.docs with usable E…

0b73ef5

…asyBlock class

fix test_xxx_include_generic_easyblocks in test.framework.options wit…

6add7bc

…h usable EasyBlock class

remove unused error_on_failed_import from get_easyblock_class method

2564be9

fix test_get_easyblock_class in test.framework.easyconfig with usable…

69aa521

… EasyBlock class

lexming added 3 commits June 12, 2024 11:24

fix test_skip_test_step in test.framework.options with usable EasyBlo…

164e3c6

…ck class

update tests replacing deprecated runtest with test_cmd

041a397

update reference error messages in test_xxx_include_generic_easyblocks

a1a58c1

lexming changed the title ~~WIP: Make generic EasyBlock usable~~ Make generic EasyBlock usable to install software Jun 12, 2024

boegel reviewed Jun 17, 2024

View reviewed changes

boegel requested changes Jun 17, 2024

View reviewed changes

lexming and others added 5 commits June 28, 2024 14:59

rename method EasyBlock._run_command_stack to EasyBlock._run_cmds

31f9a93

Co-authored-by: Kenneth Hoste <kenneth.hoste@ugent.be>

update call to renamed EasyBlock._run_cmds

b879130

Co-authored-by: Kenneth Hoste <kenneth.hoste@ugent.be>

prefer test_cmd over runtest whenever both are defined

22d9648

replace EasyBlock.run_step_main_action with EasyBlock.run_core_step_c…

e05a985

…md that only needs step name to generate and run the core step commands

disable error_on_failed_import argument in Easyconfig.get_easyblock_c…

eacd6e3

…lass and deprecate it

boegel requested changes Jul 3, 2024

View reviewed changes

Micket mentioned this pull request Jan 13, 2025

Deprecate use of parallel easyconfig parameter and fix updating the template value #4580

Merged

boegel modified the milestones: 5.0.0, 5.x Mar 17, 2025

boegel changed the base branch from 5.0.x to develop March 19, 2025 10:56

boegel modified the milestones: 4.x, 5.x Mar 19, 2025

boegel modified the milestones: 5.x.x, 5.x Apr 9, 2025

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Make generic EasyBlock usable to install software #4531

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boegel commented Mar 19, 2025

		@@ -1858,83 +1860,72 @@ def det_installversion(version, toolchain_name, toolchain_version, prefix, suffi
		_log.nosupport('Use det_full_ec_version from easybuild.tools.module_generator instead of %s' % old_fn, '2.0')


		def get_easyblock_class(easyblock, name=None, error_on_failed_import=True, error_on_missing_easyblock=True, **kwargs):

		elif error_on_failed_import:
		raise EasyBuildError(f"Failed to import '{class_name}' easyblock: {err}")

Make generic EasyBlock usable to install software #4531

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