AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

JesseSteele · 2022-07-08 05:00:28

I'm having trouble with the AUR package mod_rpaf.

Using `yay`, as: (not run as root, but as a normal user, of course)

$ yay -S mod_rpaf

I'm getting the following error:

fatal: unable to connect to github.com:
github.com[0: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx]: errno=Connection timed out

==> ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo
    Aborting...

I was able to install this without a problem one year ago, but not now. I have had this problem on two separate machines:

An Arch Linux server that I created and fully installed from scratch (not a one-click OS-install VPS installer, but from downloading Arch and building my own image.)
Not asking for help, but I did a test to install it on Manjaro with the same error. Therefore, it can't be a problem only with my Arch server installation.

I need this to run on Arch, not Manjaro, I know Manjaro is off-topic. But, if I'm getting the same error on both Arch and on Manjaro, when both are up to date, then I'm thinking that either the problem or the solution is not only on my Arch machine.

I found that the package had been orphaned, so I adopted it. I don't see anything wrong with PKGBUILD. I've cloned from the original GitHub repo gnif/mod_rpaf without a problem. I don't have a problem installing other packages with `yay`.

I've seen something similar on [SOLVED] Pacman connection timed out after -Syu or installing package and it almost looks like a nameserver resolution problem. But as I've stated, since I'm having the same error on both Arch and an Arch-stacked distro, I don't think the problem is related to anything specific to my machine nor anything that modifying `/etc/resolv.conf` will help with.

It seems to me that the problem is somewhere beyond my control, both where the problem exists and the appropriate fix. And, it is very likely that other Arch systems may have this problem also.

Of course, I have first run:

sudo pacman -Sy archlinux-keyring --noconfirm
yay -Sy archlinux-keyring
sudo pacman -Syyu
yay -Syyu

...is there some other relevant updater I'm missing?

I'm still a little new to Arch and AUR packages. Does this need a bug report for Arch or for `yay` or should I update the package? Please help me understand what is wrong and what I should do.

loqs · 2022-07-08 06:02:23

github removed support for the git:// protocol https://github.blog/2021-09-01-improvin … ty-github/ use git+https://github.com instead.

Awebb · 2022-07-08 06:12:13

FIrst of all, before you use an AUR helper like yay, that wraps around pacman and manages AUR packages, first get acquainted with the "normal" way of handling packages on Arch (pacman, makepkg and the AUR website).

There is nothing wrong with Arch and probably not much with yay, at least not in this context. Go to the AUR page of the AUR package you're trying to install and read the comments. The PKGBUILD points to a non existing path and the download can't work. Make an account at the AUR page and leave a comment there. This is one of the reasons why "we" don't like to support AUR helpers, as they completely hide the fact, that the AUR is a community driven repository and relies on community interaction. Many people use yay (or other helpers) so early in their Arch career, that they don't even realise how it works.

However, telling you all this sounds weird, because you've already stated your intention to adopt the package on the AUR page yesterday...

The error message you've got is quite clear: The github path can't be found.

source=("mod_rpaf::git://github.com/gnif/mod_rpaf#branch=stable")

There is obviously something wrong with this line.

I'm also not in love with that pkgver. This is supposed to be the actual version you're trying to install, not some made up date. Have a look at this example for pointers.

JesseSteele · 2022-07-08 06:31:51

loqs wrote:

github removed support for the git:// protocol https://github.blog/2021-09-01-improvin … ty-github/ use git+https://github.com instead.

This solved the problem. The AUR package is updated and it successfully installs on both the Arch VPS server and the Arch-stack distro for my local machine.

Here's to a great first experience and my very first contribution ever to the Arch community, both in code and forum!

JesseSteele · 2022-07-08 06:56:16

This is a tl;dr but it answers this important issue raised and I'm taking the time because this is my very first Arch question and contribution ever! So, a short introduction is in order and on-topic in the Newbie Corner...

Awebb wrote:

There is nothing wrong with Arch and probably not much with yay, at least not in this context. Go to the AUR page of the AUR package you're trying to install and read the comments. The PKGBUILD points to a non existing path and the download can't work. Make an account at the AUR page and leave a comment there. This is one of the reasons why "we" don't like to support AUR helpers, as they completely hide the fact, that the AUR is a community driven repository and relies on community interaction. Many people use yay (or other helpers) so early in their Arch career, that they don't even realise how it works.

Thank you for the info, some new, some old. I'm writing this after having made the update to that package in the AUR.

I know AUR is community driven and not officially supported. I just needed a newbie pointer to figure out WITW was going on. Didn't know about the `git` protocol changed; do now.

Turns out it was indeed `yay`-related, as opposed to a problem with the local machine. Too many times the "smart" folk start hacking their own configs to work around problems that flow from farther upstream, rather than being that community member who contributes for the surrounding space. Thinking "upstream" is far more stable and standard as far as working out bugginess.

Was `yay` broken? No, didn't say that, but it was in the package in the repo.

Would I make a bug report? I'm the guy who prefers to do the git fork and pull request to just solve the problem, rather than add to some one else's to-do list. Here, that meant adopting an orphan.

Sure, I know that `yay` and other helpers essentially do a `git clone` and a `make install`, also listing the package so updates can get notification. I could go do all of that manually, including writing scripts to check for updates to work around the need for AUR package update notifications. But, then I would have essentially written "yet another yet another yogurt", rather than building on the respected work of others, streamlining my system, and focusing on the part that generates money I can then dump back into development to support this awesome architecture called "Arch Linux".

I'm 18 months into my Arch journey, coming off an unfinished divorce from Ubuntu and a regrettable fling with CentOS. I'm glad to know how they work for education and respect the enterprises that chose to rely on them. But personally, I love having one central extra repo—the already listed AUR—unlike having to `attitude add repo-city` for Ubuntu, not to mention LTS updates and non-LTS nags for desktop... I chose Arch for the streamline awesomeness.

Yes, I know what `yay` does. I don't use the AUR because I'm a rookie; I use it because I work inline with what Arch represents to me, and so I have the time to focus my energies on building, rather than rebuilding "another yogurt".

I identify with your desire that we all know what's under the hood. You and I are in good company together. Cheers!

WorMzy · 2022-07-08 07:45:08

Please remember to mark your thread as solved by editing the first post and amending the topic title.

Mod note: moving to AUR Issues

Arch Linux

#1 2022-07-08 05:00:28

AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

#2 2022-07-08 06:02:23

Re: AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

#3 2022-07-08 06:12:13

Re: AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

#4 2022-07-08 06:31:51

Re: AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

#5 2022-07-08 06:56:16

Re: AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

#6 2022-07-08 07:45:08

Re: AUR - ERROR: Failure while downloading mod_rpaf git repo

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