`qvm-sync-appmenus` Raises A Python Exception With A Non-running Qube

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Qubes OS Release

Qubes OS 4.2 is the latest version of the Qubes OS operating system, which is designed to provide a secure and isolated environment for users. It is built on top of the Xen hypervisor and uses a unique approach to security, where each application runs in its own isolated domain, known as a qube.

Brief Summary

When using the qvm-sync-appmenus command with a non-running qube argument, a Python traceback is printed instead of a regular error message. This behavior is inconsistent with the qube's Settings GUI, which allows users to manage qubes even when they are not running.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Shutdown a Qube: First, shut down a qube by running the command qvm-shutdown <QUBE_NAME>.
  2. Run qvm-sync-appmenus: Then, run the qvm-sync-appmenus command with the name of the non-running qube as an argument, like this: qvm-sync-appmenus <QUBE_NAME>.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the qvm-sync-appmenus command should print an error message indicating that appmenus can only be retrieved from running VMs. The error message should be similar to this:

$ qvm-sync-appmenus $QUBE_NAME
usage: qvm-sync-appmenus [--verbose] [--quiet] [--force-root] [--help] [--force-rpc] [--regenerate-only] [VMNAME]
qvm-sync-appmenus: error: Appmenus can be retrieved only from running VM

Actual Behavior

However, the actual behavior is that the qvm-sync-appmenus command prints a Python traceback instead of a regular error message. The traceback is similar to this:

$ qvm-sync-appmenus $QUBE_NAME
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/qvm-sync-appmenus", line 33, in <module>
    sys.exit(load_entry_point('qubesdesktop==4.2.12', 'console_scripts', 'qvm-sync-appmenus')())
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/qubesappmenus/receive.py", line 406, in main
    new_appmenus = retrieve_appmenus_templates(vm, use_stdin=use_stdin)
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/qubesappmenus/receive.py", line 377, in retrieve_appmenus_templates
    raise qubesadmin.exc.QubesVMNotRunningError(
qubesadmin.exc.QubesVMNotRunningError: Appmenus can be retrieved only from running VM

Additional Information

This behavior is inconsistent with the qube's Settings GUI, which allows users to manage qubes even when they are not running. This inconsistency can lead to confusion and make it difficult for users to understand the expected behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the qvm-sync-appmenus command raises a Python exception with a non-running qube in Qubes OS 4.2. This behavior is inconsistent with the qube's Settings GUI and can lead to confusion. To resolve this issue, the qvm-sync-appmenus command should be modified to print a regular error message instead of a Python traceback when a non-running qube is specified as an argument.

Possible Solutions

There are several possible solutions to this issue:

  1. Modify the qvm-sync-appmenus command: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be modified to print a regular error message instead of a Python traceback when a non-running qube is specified as an argument.
  2. Add a check for running qubes: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be modified to add a check for running qubes before attempting to retrieve appmenus. If the qube is not running, the command can print a regular error message instead of a Python traceback.
  3. Improve the qube's Settings GUI: The qube's Settings GUI can be improved to provide a clear indication of whether a qube is running or not. This can help users understand the expected behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command.

Future Work

In the future, it would be beneficial to:

  1. Improve the qvm-sync-appmenus command: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be improved to provide a more user-friendly error message when a non-running qube is specified as an argument.
  2. Add more checks for running qubes: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be modified to add more checks for running qubes before attempting to retrieve appmenus.
  3. Improve the qube's Settings GUI: The qube's Settings GUI can be improved to provide a clear indication of whether a qube is running or not.

Conclusion

Q: What is the expected behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command?

A: The expected behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command is to print an error message indicating that appmenus can only be retrieved from running VMs.

Q: What is the actual behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command?

A: The actual behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command is to print a Python traceback instead of a regular error message when a non-running qube is specified as an argument.

Q: Why is the actual behavior inconsistent with the qube's Settings GUI?

A: The actual behavior is inconsistent with the qube's Settings GUI because the GUI allows users to manage qubes even when they are not running. This inconsistency can lead to confusion and make it difficult for users to understand the expected behavior of the qvm-sync-appmenus command.

Q: How can I reproduce this issue?

A: To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Shutdown a qube by running the command qvm-shutdown <QUBE_NAME>.
  2. Run the qvm-sync-appmenus command with the name of the non-running qube as an argument, like this: qvm-sync-appmenus <QUBE_NAME>.

Q: What are the possible solutions to this issue?

A: There are several possible solutions to this issue:

  1. Modify the qvm-sync-appmenus command: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be modified to print a regular error message instead of a Python traceback when a non-running qube is specified as an argument.
  2. Add a check for running qubes: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be modified to add a check for running qubes before attempting to retrieve appmenus. If the qube is not running, the command can print a regular error message instead of a Python traceback.
  3. Improve the qube's Settings GUI: The qube's Settings GUI can be improved to provide a clear indication of whether a qube is running or not.

Q: What are the future work items for this issue?

A: The future work items for this issue are:

  1. Improve the qvm-sync-appmenus command: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be improved to provide a more user-friendly error message when a non-running qube is specified as an argument.
  2. Add more checks for running qubes: The qvm-sync-appmenus command can be modified to add more checks for running qubes before attempting to retrieve appmenus.
  3. Improve the qube's Settings GUI: The qube's Settings GUI can be improved to provide a clear indication of whether a qube is running or not.

Q: How can I contribute to the resolution of this issue?

A: If you are interested in contributing to the resolution of this issue, you can:

  1. Report the issue: Report the issue to the Qubes OS developers using the Qubes OS issue tracker.
  2. Provide a patch: Provide a patch to the Qubes OS developers that fixes the issue.
  3. Participate in the discussion: Participate in the discussion on the Qubes OS mailing list or in the Qubes OS community forum to provide feedback and suggestions on how to resolve the issue.

Q: Where can I find more information about Qubes OS?

A: You can find more information about Qubes OS on the Qubes OS website, including documentation, tutorials, and community resources.