[LU-7642] Allow lustre source build without git working directory

• Type: Technical task
• Resolution: Fixed
• Priority: Critical
• Fix Version/s: Lustre 2.9.0
• Labels: patch
• Assignee: Christopher Morrone (Inactive)
• Reporter: Christopher Morrone (Inactive)

Description

Right now lustre will fail to compile if one attempts to build from a source tree pulled from git, but not actually in a git working directory. The error will contain the string:

"I have no idea how to create a META file"

I can only guess at the reasons this was put in place originally, and none of the reasons that I am coming up with are particularly convincing.

There are, on the other hand, pretty strong counter examples for why this restriction should not exist. For instance, an automated build-and-test farm might reasonably want to use a command like the following to retrieve a tree for a specific commit:

 git archive --format=tar.gz --remote=$URL $GIT_TREEISH

As it stands, that tar ball will not allow lustre to be built.

This is a long standing problem, and we really need to get it fixed.

I have already hacked the code to stop the problem for LLNL's local 2.5-llnl branch, but I think a little more extensive overhaul is needed to make things clean. I think it is pretty reasonable for me to get this done in time for Lustre 2.9.

Issue Links

• is blocked by: LU-7699 Overhaul lustre's versioning