prole/docs/DOCKER-BUILD-FIX.md

# Docker Build Fix for PyInstaller Bundle

## Problem

When the Prole Installer is packaged with PyInstaller and run as a standalone binary, Docker builds fail with the error:

```
Building prole-db:17.7-037 in /var/folders/rt/pywlnmxj3dn7t5552vwdcpp80000gn/T/_MEIGozuj4/prole-db...
```

The build hangs or fails because:

1. PyInstaller extracts resources to a temporary read-only directory (`/tmp/_MEIxxxxxx/`)
2. Docker build requires a writable context directory
3. The temporary directory has restrictive permissions
4. Docker cannot create the build context properly

## Solution

Copy the Docker build context to a writable user directory before building.

### Implementation

**Location:** `install.py`, `run_db_build()` method (line ~1791)

**Before:**
```python
def worker():
    tag = self.get_prole_db_version()
    cwd = PROJECT_ROOT / "prole-db"  # ✗ Points to read-only _MEIPASS

    cmd = ['docker', 'build', '-t', f"prole-db:{tag}", '.']
    proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, cwd=cwd, ...)
```

**After:**
```python
def worker():
    tag = self.get_prole_db_version()

    # Use $HOME/.prole/build for Docker build context
    prole_home = Path.home() / ".prole"
    build_dir = prole_home / "build" / "prole-db"
    build_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)

    # Copy prole-db directory to writable location
    source_dir = get_resource_path("prole-db")
    if source_dir.exists():
        import shutil
        if build_dir.exists():
            shutil.rmtree(build_dir)
        shutil.copytree(source_dir, build_dir)

    cwd = build_dir  # ✓ Writable user directory

    cmd = ['docker', 'build', '-t', f"prole-db:{tag}", '.']
    proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, cwd=cwd, ...)
```

## Directory Structure

The installer now creates and uses:

```
$HOME/.prole/
└── build/
    └── prole-db/          # Docker build context
        ├── Dockerfile
        ├── conf/
        ├── scripts/
        └── ...
```

## Why This Works

1. **Writable Location:** `$HOME/.prole/` is user-writable
2. **Persistent:** Files remain between runs (can be cached)
3. **Clean State:** Each build starts fresh (old dir removed)
4. **Docker Compatible:** Standard directory Docker can access

## Resource Path Resolution

The `prole-db` directory is:
- **Included in spec:** `('prole-db', 'prole-db')`
- **Extracted by PyInstaller:** To `_MEIPASS/prole-db/`
- **Copied to writable location:** `$HOME/.prole/build/prole-db/`
- **Used for build:** Docker builds from writable copy

## Performance

**First Build:**
- Copy prole-db (~1-5 MB): < 1 second
- Docker build: 30-60 seconds (varies)

**Subsequent Builds:**
- Directory recreation: < 1 second
- Docker build: May use layer cache

## Testing

### Test from Source
```bash
python3 install.py --gui
# Navigate to "Build Container" screen
# Click "Build Database Image"
# Should succeed without hanging
```

### Test from Package
```bash
make package
./dist/Prole\ Installer.app/Contents/MacOS/prole-installer --gui
# Navigate to "Build Container" screen
# Click "Build Database Image"
# Should create ~/.prole/build/prole-db and succeed
```

### Verify Directory Creation
```bash
# After build starts
ls -la ~/.prole/build/prole-db/
# Should show Dockerfile and other files
```

## Cleanup

The build directory persists after the installer exits. To clean up:

```bash
rm -rf ~/.prole/build
```

Or include in the installer:

```python
def cleanup_build_dirs():
    """Clean up temporary build directories."""
    build_dir = Path.home() / ".prole" / "build"
    if build_dir.exists():
        shutil.rmtree(build_dir)
```

## Other Potential Issues

If Docker build still hangs, check:

1. **Docker daemon running:**
   ```bash
   docker info
   ```

2. **Docker context accessible:**
   ```bash
   ls -la ~/.prole/build/prole-db/Dockerfile
   ```

3. **Disk space:**
   ```bash
   df -h ~
   ```

4. **Docker permissions:**
   ```bash
   docker ps
   # Should not require sudo
   ```

## Alternative Solutions Considered

### 1. Use /tmp with Unique Names
```python
import tempfile
build_dir = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="prole-build-"))
```
**Pros:** Automatic cleanup
**Cons:** Lost between runs, no caching

### 2. Build in Place (_MEIPASS)
```python
cwd = get_resource_path("prole-db")
```
**Pros:** No copying needed
**Cons:** ✗ Fails due to read-only permissions

### 3. Use PROJECT_ROOT for Both
```python
cwd = PROJECT_ROOT / "prole-db"
```
**Pros:** Works from source
**Cons:** ✗ Fails from package (_MEIPASS is read-only)

### 4. **Chosen: Copy to ~/.prole/build** ✓
**Pros:** Works from both source and package, writable, persistent
**Cons:** Requires disk space, manual cleanup

## Related Changes

- **Spec file updated:** Added `('prole-db', 'prole-db')` to data files
- **Resource path:** Uses `get_resource_path("prole-db")` for source
- **Build output:** Console shows build directory location

## Future Enhancements

1. **Add cleanup option:**
   ```python
   # In exit handler or menu
   if messagebox.askyesno("Cleanup", "Remove build directories?"):
       cleanup_build_dirs()
   ```

2. **Progress indication:**
   ```python
   self._db_build_console.write("Copying build context...\n")
   shutil.copytree(source_dir, build_dir)
   self._db_build_console.write("Build context ready.\n")
   ```

3. **Cache detection:**
   ```python
   if build_dir.exists() and not force_clean:
       self._db_build_console.write("Using cached build context...\n")
   else:
       shutil.copytree(source_dir, build_dir)
   ```

## Summary

The Docker build now works correctly from both source and packaged binary by:
1. Creating `~/.prole/build/prole-db/` directory
2. Copying build context from embedded resources
3. Running `docker build` in the writable directory
4. Avoiding PyInstaller's read-only temporary extraction directory