Bug: Current Version Shared Libs Not Building

Nov 17, 2025 by Alex Johnson 46 views

Bug: Versioning PR is Not Building Shared Libs for Current Version

Introduction

This article addresses a critical bug encountered during the testing of the AIDL versioning Pull Request. The issue revolves around the ./build_interfaces.sh script's failure to generate shared libraries for the current version of an interface, a functionality that works seamlessly for other versions. This discrepancy was identified by the Linux binder Team, tracing back to an unimplemented section within the linux_binder_idl repository. This article delves into the specifics of the problem, the steps to reproduce it, the expected versus actual behavior, and potential implications for the development workflow.

Problem Description

During the testing phase of the AIDL versioning PR, a peculiar behavior was observed. The script ./build_interfaces.sh car CURRENT was not generating the expected shared libraries for the current version of the interface. This is in contrast to its successful generation of libraries for other versions. The root cause, as pointed out by the Linux binder Team, lies in the fact that the implementation for handling the current version is currently missing from the linux_binder_idl repository. Specifically, the relevant section in the CMakeLists.inc file is marked as a TODO, indicating that it's a feature yet to be implemented. This omission leads to the script skipping the generation of shared libraries for the current version, thereby causing a discrepancy in the build process.

Analysis of the Build Output

When executing the ./build_interfaces.sh script, the build process generates a directory named targets/out/ containing various artifacts. A successful build should include shared libraries for all specified versions of the interface. However, in this case, the tree -L 1 targets/out/ command reveals that while libraries for other versions (e.g., libboot-v1-cpp.so, libdeepsleep-v1-cpp.so) are present, there is no corresponding lib<interface>-vcurrent-cpp.so library. This absence confirms the bug where the script fails to generate shared libraries for the current version of the interface.

Steps to Reproduce

To replicate this issue, follow these steps:

Clone the Repository: Begin by cloning the rdk-halif-aidl repository using the following command:

git clone git@github.com:rdkcentral/rdk-halif-aidl.git -b feature/75-AIDL_Versioning_for_RDK-E_Interfaces_new

Initial Build Attempt: Execute the ./build_interfaces.sh script. Note that this will initially fail due to missing generated C++ files.
```
./build_interfaces.sh
```
Create Interface Definition: Create an interface.yaml file within the appropriate interface directories. This file defines the structure and properties of the interface.
Set Up Virtual Environment: Create and activate a Python virtual environment to manage dependencies. This ensures a consistent and isolated environment for running the AIDL operations.
```
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
```
Generate AIDL Files: Use the aidl_ops tool to generate the necessary C++ files from the interface definition. This involves updating, formatting, and generating the interface files.
```
aidl_ops -u <interface name>
aidl_ops -f <interface name>
aidl_ops -g <interface name>
```
Run Build Script: Execute the ./build_interfaces.sh script, specifying the interface name and the CURRENT version. This is the step that should generate the shared library for the current version.
```
./build_interfaces.sh <interface name> CURRENT
```

Expected Behavior

After executing the script with the CURRENT flag, the expectation is that the interface library for the current version should be generated in the ./targets/out directory. This library, typically named lib<interface>-vcurrent-cpp.so, is essential for applications and services that rely on the current version of the interface. A successful build would result in the presence of this library alongside other generated artifacts.

Actual Behavior

In reality, when the ./build_interfaces.sh script is executed with either the all current or <interface_name> current arguments, the interface library for the current version is not generated. Examining the contents of the ./targets/out directory reveals a notable absence: the lib<interface>-vcurrent-cpp.so file is missing. The output of the tree -L 1 targets/out/ command confirms this, showing only a subset of expected files, excluding the crucial shared library for the current version.

 tree -L 1 targets/out/
targets/out/
├── CMakeCache.txt
├── CMakeFiles
├── cmake_install.cmake
├── generated
├── libbase.so
├── libbinder.so
├── libcutils.so
├── libcutils_sockets.so
├── liblog.so
├── libutils.so
├── Makefile
└── servicemanager

This behavior indicates a clear discrepancy between the expected and actual outcomes, highlighting the bug's impact on the build process.

Impact and Implications

The failure to generate shared libraries for the current version of an interface has significant implications. Applications and services that rely on the current version of the interface will be unable to function correctly, as the necessary library is missing. This can lead to runtime errors, crashes, and overall system instability. Moreover, it hinders the development and testing process, as developers cannot effectively validate their code against the current version of the interface. Addressing this bug is crucial for ensuring the stability and reliability of the RDK platform.

Conclusion

In summary, the identified bug prevents the generation of shared libraries for the current version of an interface when using the ./build_interfaces.sh script. This issue stems from an unimplemented section in the linux_binder_idl repository. Reproducing the bug involves cloning the repository, setting up the environment, generating AIDL files, and running the build script with the CURRENT flag. The expected behavior is the generation of the lib<interface>-vcurrent-cpp.so library, which is absent in the actual behavior. This discrepancy has implications for application functionality and the development workflow. Addressing this bug is essential for maintaining the integrity and stability of the RDK platform. For more information on Linux Binder, check out this external resource.