package python3-uno 4:24.2.3-0ubuntu0.24.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: new python3-uno package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127

[Emmett Jaeger]

Failure occurred during a dist upgrade from 23.10 to 24.04

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: python3-uno 4:24.2.3-0ubuntu0.24.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-35.35-generic 6.5.13
Uname: Linux 6.5.0-35-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: zfs nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.28.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
Date: Fri May 31 10:53:15 2024
DuplicateSignature:
 package:python3-uno:4:24.2.3-0ubuntu0.24.04.2
 Removing obsolete configuration file /etc/libreoffice/registry/pyuno.xcd ...
 awk: error while loading shared libraries: libreadline.so.8: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
 dpkg: error processing archive /tmp/apt-dpkg-install-g7RPpP/01-python3-uno_4%3a24.2.3-0ubuntu0.24.04.2_amd64.deb (--unpack):
  new python3-uno package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
ErrorMessage: new python3-uno package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
InstallationDate: Installed on 2023-12-15 (168 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64 (20230807.2)
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.12, Python 3.12.3, python3-minimal, 3.12.3-0ubuntu1
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.18, unpackaged
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.22.6ubuntu6
 apt 2.7.14build2
SourcePackage: libreoffice
Title: package python3-uno 4:24.2.3-0ubuntu0.24.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: new python3-uno package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to noble on 2024-05-31 (0 days ago)

[Julian Andres Klode (juliank)]

The issue here is that apt is forced to remove libreadline8 to allow installing libreadline8t64. The user has gawk installed which has the higher priority for awk.
gawk is not essential so it doesn't have the immediate handling of an essential package.
The python3-uno package uses awk in its preinst which fails due to the forced removal of libreadline8.

The only way out of this issue is to use explicitly mawk in the maintainer script which is Essential. The use of awk doesn't work because it's not an Essential facility (as it may be provided by gawk), and you don't want to depend on gawk since you don't use gawk specifically, and a dependency on awk would be satisfied by mawk.

[Julian Andres Klode (juliank)]

Sorry mawk is not actually essential, so in either case you miss a Depends. Actually a PreDepends.

I do not believe a PreDepends: awk would work but I'm not sure - does it require all awks to be configured or just one is the question.

[Rico Tzschichholz (ricotz)]

python3-uno.preinst.in uses ucf which makes use of awk.

So actually a Pre-Depends: ucf would be needed here? Although ucf itself doesn't depend on *awk.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Rico Tzschichholz (ricotz)]

Proposed fix https://git.launchpad.net/~libreoffice/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/commit/?id=19d8d83bb5b4653f51c2688952be3453dec0341d is included in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/2068562