Unable To Build 2025.04 On Alpine Linux

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Introduction

As a developer, building and publishing official Docker images for Rakudo Star can be a challenging task. However, when issues arise, it's essential to identify the root cause and find a solution. In this article, we'll explore the problem of building Rakudo 2025.04 on Alpine Linux 3.21 and provide a step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Background

Rakudo Star is a Perl 6 implementation that uses the MoarVM backend. To build Rakudo, we need to install the necessary dependencies, including GCC, Git, libc-dev, make, and Perl. The perl Configure.pl --backend=moar --gen-moar command is used to configure the build process.

The Problem

When attempting to build Rakudo 2025.04 on Alpine Linux 3.21, we encounter the following error:

compiling 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/static.o
In file included from 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/prim/prim.c:25,
                 from 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/static.c:38:
3rdparty/mimalloc/src/prim/unix/prim.c:34:12: fatal error: linux/prctl.h: No such file or directory
   34 |   #include <linux/prctl.h>  // PR_SET_VMA
      |            ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make: *** [Makefile:674: 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/static.o] Error 1

This error occurs because the linux/prctl.h header file is not available on Alpine Linux. To resolve this issue, we can try installing the linux-headers package using apk add linux-headers.

Installing Linux Headers

However, installing linux-headers results in a different problem:

compiling 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/static.o
In file included from 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/prim/unix/prim.c:36,
                 from 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/prim/prim.c:25,
                 from 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/static.c:38:
/usr/include/sys/prctl.h:88:8: error: redefinition of 'struct prctl_mm_map'
   88 | struct prctl_mm_map {
      |        ^~~~~~~~~~~~
In file included from 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/prim/unix/prim.c:34:
/usr/include/linux/prctl.h:134:8: note: originally defined here
  134 | struct prctl_mm_map {
      |        ^~~~~~~~~~~~
make: *** [Makefile:674: 3rdparty/mimalloc/src/static.o] Error 1

This error occurs because the linux/prctl.h header file is now available, but it conflicts with the sys/prctl.h header file.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, we need to identify the root cause and find a solution. Here are the steps we can take:

  1. Check the Alpine Linux version: Ensure that we are using the latest version of Alpine Linux 3.21.
  2. Verify the dependencies: Make sure that have installed the necessary dependencies, including GCC, Git, libc-dev, make, and Perl.
  3. Check the header files: Verify that the linux/prctl.h and sys/prctl.h header files are available and not conflicting with each other.
  4. Try a different build backend: Attempt to build Rakudo using a different build backend, such as the NQP backend.

Conclusion

Building Rakudo 2025.04 on Alpine Linux 3.21 can be challenging due to the conflicts between the linux/prctl.h and sys/prctl.h header files. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, we can identify the root cause of the issue and find a solution. If you are still experiencing issues, please provide more details, and we'll be happy to help you troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

Additional Resources

Related Articles

Q: What is the issue with building Rakudo 2025.04 on Alpine Linux 3.21?

A: The issue is due to conflicts between the linux/prctl.h and sys/prctl.h header files. When attempting to build Rakudo 2025.04 on Alpine Linux 3.21, the build process encounters errors due to the unavailability of the linux/prctl.h header file and subsequent conflicts with the sys/prctl.h header file.

Q: What are the symptoms of this issue?

A: The symptoms of this issue include:

  • Error messages indicating that the linux/prctl.h header file is not available.
  • Error messages indicating that the sys/prctl.h header file is conflicting with the linux/prctl.h header file.
  • Failure to complete the build process.

Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Check the Alpine Linux version: Ensure that you are using the latest version of Alpine Linux 3.21.
  2. Verify the dependencies: Make sure that you have installed the necessary dependencies, including GCC, Git, libc-dev, make, and Perl.
  3. Check the header files: Verify that the linux/prctl.h and sys/prctl.h header files are available and not conflicting with each other.
  4. Try a different build backend: Attempt to build Rakudo using a different build backend, such as the NQP backend.

Q: What are the possible solutions to this issue?

A: The possible solutions to this issue include:

  • Installing the linux-headers package: Installing the linux-headers package may resolve the issue by providing the necessary header files.
  • Using a different build backend: Attempting to build Rakudo using a different build backend, such as the NQP backend, may resolve the issue.
  • Modifying the build process: Modifying the build process to exclude the conflicting header files may resolve the issue.

Q: How can I prevent this issue in the future?

A: To prevent this issue in the future, follow these best practices:

  • Regularly update Alpine Linux: Regularly update Alpine Linux to ensure that you have the latest version and the necessary dependencies.
  • Verify dependencies: Verify that you have installed the necessary dependencies before attempting to build Rakudo.
  • Check header files: Verify that the necessary header files are available and not conflicting with each other.

Q: Where can I find additional resources for troubleshooting this issue?

A: Additional resources for troubleshooting this issue can be found at:

Q: Can I get help with troubleshooting this issue?

A: Yes, you can get help with troubleshooting this issue by: