`module Overview` Crashes If There's A Single Module Directory With Unreadable .modulerc.lua

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Introduction

The module overview command in Lmod is used to display a general overview of the available modules on a system. However, it has been observed that if there is a single module directory with an unreadable .modulerc.lua file, the entire module overview command crashes. This behavior is unexpected and can cause inconvenience to users who rely on the module overview command to manage their modules.

Problem Description

The issue arises when a .modulerc.lua file in a module folder is removed or has its read permissions revoked. When the module overview command is run, it attempts to load the module files, including the .modulerc.lua file. However, since the file is unreadable, the command crashes and displays an error message.

To Reproduce

The issue can be reproduced by following these steps:

  1. Create a .modulerc.lua file in a module folder and remove read permissions using the chmod command.
  2. Run the module overview command to display the available modules.
  3. Observe that the command crashes and displays an error message.

Example

Here is an example of the issue:

$ ml -t avail
/home/user/modulefiles:
emacs/
emacs/27.2
emacs/28.1
gcc/
gcc/8.5.0
singularity/
singularity/4.2.2
snakemake/
snakemake/8(@snakemake/8.16.0)
snakemake/8.16.0

$ ml -t overview

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ /home/user/modulefiles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
emacs (2)   gcc (1)   singularity (1)   snakemake (1)

$ chmod -r modulefiles/snakemake/.modulerc.lua

$ ml -t avail # avail still works
/home/user/modulefiles:
emacs/
emacs/27.2
emacs/28.1
gcc/
gcc/8.5.0
singularity/
singularity/4.2.2
snakemake/
snakemake/8.16.0

$ ml -t overview # ...but overview doesn't
Lmod has detected the following error:  Unable to load module because of error when evaluating modulefile: <unknown>
     /home/user/modulefiles/snakemake/.modulerc.lua: Empty or non-existent file
     Please check the modulefile and especially if there is a line number specified in the above message

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the module overview command should not crash due to a single unreadable .modulerc.lua file. Instead, it should display an error message for the specific module that is causing the issue and continue to display the available modules.

Desktop Information

The issue has been observed on the following desktop:

  • OS: Linux
  • Linux distribution: Rocky
  • Lmod Version: 8.7.60

Additional Context

The issue is not specific to Lmod version 8.7.60 and has also been observed in version 8.7.

Conclusion

Q: What is the issue with the module overview command?

A: The issue is that the module overview command crashes due to an unreadable .modulerc.lua file in a module folder.

Q: What is the expected behavior of the module overview command?

A: The expected behavior is that the command should display an error message for the specific module that is causing the issue and continue to display the available modules.

Q: Why does the module overview command crash due to an unreadable .modulerc.lua file?

A: The module overview command crashes due to an unreadable .modulerc.lua file because it attempts to load the module files, including the .modulerc.lua file, which is unreadable.

Q: How can I reproduce the issue?

A: To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Create a .modulerc.lua file in a module folder and remove read permissions using the chmod command.
  2. Run the module overview command to display the available modules.
  3. Observe that the command crashes and displays an error message.

Q: What are the system requirements for this issue?

A: The issue has been observed on the following system:

  • OS: Linux
  • Linux distribution: Rocky
  • Lmod Version: 8.7.60

Q: Is this issue specific to Lmod version 8.7.60?

A: No, the issue is not specific to Lmod version 8.7.60 and has also been observed in version 8.7.

Q: How can I fix the issue?

A: To fix the issue, you can either:

  • Restore read permissions to the .modulerc.lua file using the chmod command.
  • Remove the .modulerc.lua file from the module folder.

Q: What are the implications of this issue?

A: The implications of this issue are that users who rely on the module overview command to manage their modules may experience crashes and errors due to unreadable .modulerc.lua files.

Q: How can I prevent this issue from occurring in the future?

A: To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, you can:

  • Regularly check the permissions of .modulerc.lua files in module folders.
  • Ensure that .modulerc.lua files are readable by the system.
  • Use a consistent naming convention for .modulerc.lua files to avoid confusion.

Q: Where can I find more information about this issue?

A: You can find more information about this issue in the Lmod documentation and online forums.