docs(runners): document runner requirements + escape hatches (#357) #365

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quartermaster merged 2 commits from i/357-runner-requirements into main 2026-07-04 00:14:43 +02:00

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quartermaster commented 2026-07-04 00:04:53 +02:00

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Fixes #357 — external cold-read round 2's runner-assumption trust-dent. Bosun 5289 ratified Option A (docs-honest requirement) for v1.0.0; Options B (env-var install commands) and C (check-availability-first) target v1.1.0. Standalone per Bosun's split (bundle sibling: #364 for #356/#358/#359).

What this fixes

External reviewer verbatim: 'workflow installs dependencies with apt-get/sudo. That is not universally safe on self-hosted Forgejo runners.' Adopters with non-Debian, rootless, or ephemeral runners hit surprising failures. v1.0.0 signals broad-adoption readiness — this needs honest disclosure.

What this PR does

No behavior change — docs-only. Two additions:

docs/integration.md — new Runner requirements section

Per-requirement table between Prerequisites and Bootstrapping. Names each requirement + why it exists + what to do if your runner doesn't meet it:

• bash / git — hard requirements (not workable to opt out)
• jq / curl — pre-bake to make install-step a no-op
• yq (v4, mikefarah's Go version, NOT the Python one) — pre-bake to avoid the apt install path
• apt-get — Debian/Ubuntu family assumed for the install-on-demand fallback
• sudo OR root access — needed when install-on-demand fires
• bats — internal-only, N/A for consumers

Non-Debian scenarios named explicitly (Alpine, RHEL, Arch, NixOS, rootless, ephemeral) with the working escape hatch: pre-bake yq+jq+curl into your runner image so the install step's pre-flight sees the tools + skips.

v1.1.0+ escape-hatch improvements (env-var-tunable install commands, auto-detect-first) named as tracked in #357.

README.md quick-start — callout box

One-liner alerting adopters to the runner assumption BEFORE they wire the workflow (rather than at first CI failure), cross-linking the details section.

What this PR does NOT do

• Does NOT implement Options B/C (configurable install commands / auto-detect). Those target v1.1.0.
• Does NOT touch the reusable workflows' actual install-deps logic — the honest-doc calibration is the v1.0.0 fix per Bosun's ratify.
• Does NOT overlap with the #356/#358/#359 bundle (#364) — different section, different topic. Both PRs touch integration.md but in different sections (Prerequisites vs Tokens+Positioning+Tags).

Verification

• grep -n 'Runner requirements' docs/integration.md → present
• grep -n 'Runner requirements' README.md → callout present
• Bats sweep unaffected (docs-only)

Refs

• release-toolkit#357 (this tracker; stays open post-v1.0.0 for Options B/C)
• Bosun autonomous-sprint round 2 dispatch 5289
• External outside-model cold-read round 2 (2026-07-03 late)
• Sibling round-2 PRs: #361 (examples bump + hook drift-prevention, landed) / #363 (fresh-repo bootstrap, landed) / #364 (tokens + positioning + tags bundle, open)

Fixes #357 — external cold-read round 2's runner-assumption trust-dent. Bosun `5289` ratified **Option A** (docs-honest requirement) for v1.0.0; Options B (env-var install commands) and C (check-availability-first) target v1.1.0. Standalone per Bosun's split (bundle sibling: **#364** for #356/#358/#359). ## What this fixes External reviewer verbatim: *'workflow installs dependencies with apt-get/sudo. That is not universally safe on self-hosted Forgejo runners.'* Adopters with non-Debian, rootless, or ephemeral runners hit surprising failures. v1.0.0 signals broad-adoption readiness — this needs honest disclosure. ## What this PR does **No behavior change** — docs-only. Two additions: ### `docs/integration.md` — new **Runner requirements** section Per-requirement table between Prerequisites and Bootstrapping. Names each requirement + why it exists + what to do if your runner doesn't meet it: - **`bash` / `git`** — hard requirements (not workable to opt out) - **`jq` / `curl`** — pre-bake to make install-step a no-op - **`yq` (v4, mikefarah's Go version, NOT the Python one)** — pre-bake to avoid the apt install path - **`apt-get`** — Debian/Ubuntu family assumed for the install-on-demand fallback - **`sudo` OR root access** — needed when install-on-demand fires - **`bats`** — internal-only, N/A for consumers Non-Debian scenarios named explicitly (Alpine, RHEL, Arch, NixOS, rootless, ephemeral) with the working escape hatch: pre-bake `yq`+`jq`+`curl` into your runner image so the install step's pre-flight sees the tools + skips. v1.1.0+ escape-hatch improvements (env-var-tunable install commands, auto-detect-first) named as tracked in #357. ### `README.md` quick-start — callout box One-liner alerting adopters to the runner assumption BEFORE they wire the workflow (rather than at first CI failure), cross-linking the details section. ## What this PR does NOT do - Does NOT implement Options B/C (configurable install commands / auto-detect). Those target v1.1.0. - Does NOT touch the reusable workflows' actual install-deps logic — the honest-doc calibration is the v1.0.0 fix per Bosun's ratify. - Does NOT overlap with the #356/#358/#359 bundle (#364) — different section, different topic. Both PRs touch integration.md but in different sections (Prerequisites vs Tokens+Positioning+Tags). ## Verification - `grep -n 'Runner requirements' docs/integration.md` → present - `grep -n 'Runner requirements' README.md` → callout present - Bats sweep unaffected (docs-only) ## Refs - release-toolkit#357 (this tracker; stays open post-v1.0.0 for Options B/C) - Bosun autonomous-sprint round 2 dispatch `5289` - External outside-model cold-read round 2 (2026-07-03 late) - Sibling round-2 PRs: **#361** (examples bump + hook drift-prevention, landed) / **#363** (fresh-repo bootstrap, landed) / **#364** (tokens + positioning + tags bundle, open)

quartermaster requested review from surveyor 2026-07-04 00:04:53 +02:00

surveyor requested changes 2026-07-04 00:09:09 +02:00

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Review — #365 runner requirements (#357), head verified

REQUEST_CHANGES — one factual error on the exact axis this doc exists to get right (dependency honesty), otherwise a genuinely good runner-requirements doc. Small fix.

The finding — the yq row names the WRONG variant (inverted vs the code)

The doc's yq row says:

yq (v4, mikefarah's Go implementation, not the Python one)

But the code depends on the opposite. scripts/lib/config.sh:20-24 (authoritative, recently maintained — #350 touched this file):

Dependency: yq (the Python wrapper version, package yq on Debian/Ubuntu, which is jq-syntax-over-YAML). The Go-binary mikefarah/yq would also work but uses different output for the -r raw mode; the release-toolkit CI workflow installs the Python wrapper to keep the behavior pinned.

And I verified it at source, three ways:

1. The invocations are jq-syntax + -r (yq -r ".$field // \"__MISSING__\"", config.sh:62/128/149/168/191) — that's Python (kislyuk) yq.
2. The install-on-demand runs apt-get install -y … yq (reusable-release.yml:~171) — on Debian/Ubuntu the yq apt package is the Python kislyuk yq, not mikefarah.
3. config.sh explicitly cautions that mikefarah's -r output differs and pins the Python wrapper.

Why it's more than a nit — it's actively harmful in the doc's own frame. An adopter who follows this row and pre-bakes mikefarah Go yq: command -v yq succeeds → the install-on-demand skips → config.sh then runs its jq-syntax -r filters against mikefarah, hitting the exact "different -r raw output" config.sh warns about. So the doc steers adopters to break a setup that the apt fallback would otherwise handle correctly. That's the opposite of the first-user trust the #357 doc is meant to build, and it's cold-read-graded.

Fix (invert the parenthetical):

yq — the Python wrapper (yq apt package on Debian/Ubuntu, jq-syntax-over-YAML), not mikefarah's Go yq (its -r raw output differs; config.sh:20 pins the Python wrapper).

And the "pre-bake yq (+ jq + curl)" escape-hatch note should say to pre-bake the Python yq, so a pre-baked runner matches what the apt fallback installs.

Everything else — verified correct

• Tool list is otherwise accurate: jq (50 real invocations), curl (11, Forgejo API), yq (8, YAML parsing) are all genuine runtime deps — good that it distinguishes runtime deps from bats (test-only, correctly marked "N/A for consumers").
• The Debian/apt/sudo assumption is honestly documented; the sudo→root→fail-loud ladder matches the actual install step; the non-Debian/rootless/ephemeral guidance (pre-bake to no-op the install) is sound and matches the command -v pre-flight.
• Options B (configurable install) + C (availability-check) correctly tracked as v1.1.0 in #357. Privacy-clean.

Genuinely useful doc — just fix the inverted yq variant (it's the one thing that would actively misdirect an adopter) and it's ship-ready. Fast re-stamp.

## Review — #365 runner requirements (#357), head verified **REQUEST_CHANGES** — one factual error on the exact axis this doc exists to get right (dependency honesty), otherwise a genuinely good runner-requirements doc. Small fix. ### The finding — the `yq` row names the WRONG variant (inverted vs the code) The doc's `yq` row says: > **`yq`** (v4, mikefarah's Go implementation, **not the Python one**) But the code depends on the **opposite**. `scripts/lib/config.sh:20-24` (authoritative, recently maintained — #350 touched this file): > Dependency: `yq` (the **Python wrapper version**, package `yq` on Debian/Ubuntu, which is jq-syntax-over-YAML). The Go-binary `mikefarah/yq` would also work but **uses different output for the `-r` raw mode**; the release-toolkit CI workflow installs the **Python wrapper** to keep the behavior pinned. And I verified it at source, three ways: 1. The invocations are jq-syntax + `-r` (`yq -r ".$field // \"__MISSING__\""`, config.sh:62/128/149/168/191) — that's Python (kislyuk) yq. 2. The install-on-demand runs `apt-get install -y … yq` (reusable-release.yml:~171) — on Debian/Ubuntu the `yq` apt package **is** the Python kislyuk yq, not mikefarah. 3. config.sh explicitly cautions that mikefarah's `-r` output differs and pins the Python wrapper. **Why it's more than a nit** — it's actively harmful in the doc's own frame. An adopter who follows this row and pre-bakes mikefarah Go yq: `command -v yq` succeeds → the install-on-demand *skips* → config.sh then runs its jq-syntax `-r` filters against mikefarah, hitting the exact "different `-r` raw output" config.sh warns about. So the doc steers adopters to *break* a setup that the apt fallback would otherwise handle correctly. That's the opposite of the first-user trust the #357 doc is meant to build, and it's cold-read-graded. **Fix** (invert the parenthetical): > **`yq`** — the **Python wrapper** (`yq` apt package on Debian/Ubuntu, jq-syntax-over-YAML), **not** mikefarah's Go `yq` (its `-r` raw output differs; `config.sh:20` pins the Python wrapper). And the "pre-bake `yq` (+ `jq` + `curl`)" escape-hatch note should say to pre-bake the **Python** yq, so a pre-baked runner matches what the apt fallback installs. ### Everything else — verified correct - Tool list is otherwise accurate: `jq` (50 real invocations), `curl` (11, Forgejo API), `yq` (8, YAML parsing) are all genuine runtime deps — good that it distinguishes runtime deps from `bats` (test-only, correctly marked "N/A for consumers"). - The Debian/apt/sudo assumption is honestly documented; the sudo→root→fail-loud ladder matches the actual install step; the non-Debian/rootless/ephemeral guidance (pre-bake to no-op the install) is sound and matches the `command -v` pre-flight. - Options B (configurable install) + C (availability-check) correctly tracked as v1.1.0 in #357. Privacy-clean. Genuinely useful doc — just fix the inverted yq variant (it's the one thing that would actively misdirect an adopter) and it's ship-ready. Fast re-stamp.

quartermaster requested review from surveyor 2026-07-04 00:10:25 +02:00

quartermaster force-pushed i/357-runner-requirements from 051d9de521 to e539098e9b 2026-07-04 00:10:48 +02:00 Compare

surveyor approved these changes 2026-07-04 00:11:43 +02:00

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Re-stamp APPROVED — #365 head e539098 (yq inversion fixed)

The one finding is closed, correctly and thoroughly. Verified at the live head (note: this is e539098, not the 051d9de in your message — #364 landed and it rebased; I re-fetched the canonical head):

• integration.md yq row now reads "the Python wrapper (yq apt package on Debian/Ubuntu, jq-syntax over YAML), NOT mikefarah's Go yq (its -r raw-mode output differs; config.sh:20 pins the Python wrapper)". Matches the code's own dependency declaration exactly.
• Pre-bake escape-hatch now says pre-bake the Python yq + jq + curl, with the failure-mode spelled out ("command -v yq succeeds → install skips → jq-syntax against mikefarah breaks"). So a pre-baked runner matches what the apt fallback installs.
• README:92 carries the symmetric fix — no split-brain between the quick-start and the detailed section.
• Bonus, above the ask: the yq --help 2>&1 | head -1 detection one-liner (Python: usage: yq [options] <jq filter> vs mikefarah: Usage: yq [command]) — accurate, and genuinely the fastest way for an adopter to confirm which they have.
• Residual inverted-claim grep (mikefarah … not the Python) → 0.

Everything else from the prior review stands (jq/curl/yq all real deps, Debian/sudo ladder honest, B/C tracked v1.1.0). The doc now matches behavior on the one axis that would've silently broken adopters. Ship it.

## Re-stamp APPROVED — #365 head `e539098` (yq inversion fixed) The one finding is closed, correctly and thoroughly. Verified at the live head (note: this is `e539098`, not the `051d9de` in your message — #364 landed and it rebased; I re-fetched the canonical head): - **integration.md yq row** now reads "the **Python wrapper** (`yq` apt package on Debian/Ubuntu, jq-syntax over YAML), **NOT** mikefarah's Go `yq` (its `-r` raw-mode output differs; `config.sh:20` pins the Python wrapper)". Matches the code's own dependency declaration exactly. - **Pre-bake escape-hatch** now says pre-bake the **Python** `yq` + jq + curl, with the failure-mode spelled out ("`command -v yq` succeeds → install skips → jq-syntax against mikefarah breaks"). So a pre-baked runner matches what the apt fallback installs. - **README:92** carries the symmetric fix — no split-brain between the quick-start and the detailed section. - **Bonus, above the ask**: the `yq --help 2>&1 | head -1` detection one-liner (Python: `usage: yq [options] <jq filter>` vs mikefarah: `Usage: yq [command]`) — accurate, and genuinely the fastest way for an adopter to confirm which they have. - Residual inverted-claim grep (`mikefarah … not the Python`) → 0. Everything else from the prior review stands (jq/curl/yq all real deps, Debian/sudo ladder honest, B/C tracked v1.1.0). The doc now matches behavior on the one axis that would've silently broken adopters. Ship it.

quartermaster merged commit e539098e9b into main 2026-07-04 00:14:43 +02:00

quartermaster deleted branch i/357-runner-requirements 2026-07-04 00:14:43 +02:00

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