Dealing with non-root $PWD

[srid]

cd ./example
mkdir tmp
cd ./tmp
nix run

This creates the data diretory in ./example/tmp/data (instead of ./example/data as one would expect -- ie. in flake root). What is the best way to address this? In nammayatri we use flake-root + mission-control module to side-step the problem.

One possible solution here is to have services-flake require the use of flake-root module, and have the data directory use the flake root directory determined by the latter module.

[srid]

In some cases (where you are providing services to external users to be run via, say, nix run github:user/repo#blah), there is no such concept of flake root - so we should respect $PWD in these cases.

If we are using flake-root to solve this, then there should be a way to disable it, such as via a cdToProjectRoot option (cf. Platonic-Systems/mission-control#29).

[adrian-gierakowski]

How about resolving the dir in the following order:

1. if PRJ_ROOT is set, use that
2. otherwise try flake root
3. finally fallback on $PWD

[adrian-gierakowski]

If we are using flake-root to solve this, then there should be a way to disable it, such as via a cdToProjectRoot

👍

[srid]

I'm happy to add support for setting PRJ_ROOT in github:srid/flake-root if that env var is widely used. So, your sequence is narrowed down to (1) and (3) only.

The problem with resolving dir in an order like this is that the behaviour is no longer deterministic within the process-compose configuration. If you use flake-root, it behaves one way. If you don't, the same config.process-compose.<name> behaves differently. That's a bit of magic I'd like to avoid, and instead go for an explicit and local approach.

[srid]

Maybe this should be solved upstream, in process-compose-flake. See Platonic-Systems/process-compose-flake#29 by @MrFoxPro

[srid]

Is this really a problem that's worth solving in process-compose-flake / services-flake? I'm getting convinced that we should not. And instead document this, pointing users towards using mission-control + flake-root for a devShell experience.