Snapcraft python build fails to run with `GLIBC_2.25' not found error message

[Manu Varkey]

While starting snap build using snapcraft python plugin, following error message is displayed.

/snap/gestimator/x1/usr/bin/python3: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.25' not found (required by /snap/gestimator/x1/usr/bin/python3)

App git: https://github.com/manuvarkey/GEstimator.git
Ubuntu Version: 17.10 (64 bit) (Fully updated)
Kernel: 4.13.0-16-generic
Snapcraft version: 2.34
Snap Version: 2.28.5+17.10

Contents of yaml file is as below:

name: gestimator
version: 1.1.0
summary: GEstimator is a simple civil estimation software written in Python and GTK+
description: |
  GEstimator is a simple civil estimation software written in Python and GTK+. GEstimator can prepare estimates along with rate analysis and supports multiple databases.

grade: devel
confinement: devmode

parts:
  gestimator:
    source: .
    plugin: python
    python-version: python3
    after: []
apps:
  gestimator:
    command: bin/GEstimator.py
    desktop: usr/share/applications/GEstimator.desktop

[Kyle Fazzari (kyrofa)]

Hey Manu, how do you have Snapcraft installed? This sounds like a problem that I believe has been fixed in master, but not yet released. Can you try installing the snap from edge and trying again?

    sudo snap install --edge snapcraft

[Manu Varkey (manuvarkey-gmail)]

Installed snapcraft from edge. But the same error is being displayed. Terminal output is attached.

pced@pced-laptop:~$ snap refresh snapcraft --edge
snapcraft (edge) 2.35+git2.30f6268 from 'canonical' refreshed
pced@pced-laptop:~$ cd GEstimator/
pced@pced-laptop:~/GEstimator$ git pull origin master
remote: Counting objects: 5, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (1/1), done.
remote: Total 5 (delta 4), reused 5 (delta 4), pack-reused 0
Unpacking objects: 100% (5/5), done.
From https://github.com/manuvarkey/GEstimator
 * branch master -> FETCH_HEAD
   5a4f390..db89c98 master -> origin/master
Updating 5a4f390..db89c98
Fast-forward
 estimator/view/schedule.py | 9 ++++-----
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
pced@pced-laptop:~/GEstimator$ snapcraft
Preparing to pull gestimator
Get:1 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu artful InRelease [10.2 kB]
Get:2 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu artful/partner amd64 Packages [1616 B]
Get:3 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu artful/partner i386 Packages [1616 B]
Hit http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful InRelease
Get:4 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates InRelease [78.6 kB]
Get:5 https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable stable InRelease [2592 B]
Get:6 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/main amd64 Packages [50.8 kB]
Get:7 https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable stable/non-free amd64 Packages [1823 B]
Get:8 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/main i386 Packages [50.8 kB]
Get:9 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/main Translation-en [23.3 kB]
Get:10 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/main amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [13.5 kB]
Get:11 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/main DEP-11 64x64 Icons [8171 B]
Get:12 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates amd64 Contents (deb) [341 kB]
Get:13 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates i386 Contents (deb) [339 kB]
Get:14 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/restricted amd64 Packages [2204 B]
Get:15 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/restricted i386 Packages [2184 B]
Get:16 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/restricted Translation-en [1284 B]
Get:17 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/universe amd64 Packages [17.5 kB]
Get:18 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/universe i386 Packages [17.6 kB]
Get:19 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/universe Translation-en [10.9 kB]
Get:20 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/universe amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [11.8 kB]
Get:21 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/universe DEP-11 64x64 Icons [15.9 kB]
Get:22 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/multiverse amd64 Packages [1844 B]
Get:23 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful-updates/multiverse i386 Pa...

[Kyle Fazzari (kyrofa)]

Ah, the description implies this happens at build time, but it actually happens at run time. I believe the issue here is that you're building on 17.10, which has a newer libc than Xenial, which is what you run against. Is there a reason you're building on 17.10? If not, you can run `snapcraft cleanbuild`, which will spin up a Xenial lxd container for building, or otherwise run Snapcraft on Xenial.

[Manu Varkey (manuvarkey-gmail)]

That solves it! Now the snap runs without the GLIBC error. A 'Namespace Gtk not available' error is showed, but its a different issue with building against Gtk that I have to look into.

The requirement that you have to build the snap against Xenial is not mentioned anywhere in the snapcraft tutorials. The tutorials may need updating or am I missing something ?

[Jonathan White (droidmonkey)]

Agree with Manu on this issue, the platform that you build your snap on should not matter one bit. The whole point of running a snap is portability. Snapcraft should not even allow you to build on 17.10 without using cleanbuild if this is an issue!