Issue #21995 has been reported by gemmaro (Gemma Kosaka). ---------------------------------------- Bug #21995: mkmf generates a non-deterministic log file https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/21995 * Author: gemmaro (Gemma Kosaka) * Status: Open * ruby -v: ruby 4.1.0dev (2026-04-12T14:25:33Z master 6593cc52d6) +PRISM [x86_64-linux] * Backport: 3.3: UNKNOWN, 3.4: UNKNOWN, 4.0: UNKNOWN ---------------------------------------- Hello, When compiling Ruby's C extensions with mkmf, it can generate a `mkmf.log` file with non-deterministic content, especially at the line below: ```txt ld: /tmp/rubytest.h8pay9/cc3fbuGm.o: in function `t': ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ``` This can be problematic on some distributions/package-managers, since the `mkmf.log` file is included in the files generated by `gem install`. {{collapse(example flow) Note about an example flow where randomized filenames occur: 1. `extconf.rb` has calls to `have_func` 2. `gem install` is run by the user 3. It invokes mkmf to process the `extconf.rb` file 4. The checks fail and print intermediate randomized filenames, which are recorded in `mkmf.log` file 5. `gem install` includes `mkmf.log` in the packaged files 6. When the gem is built/packaged multiple times, a reproducibility problem occurs }} {{collapse(background) As a background, the previously reported/related issues are: * ##15304 * This mentions temporary filenames in the generated Makefile, and they are not reproducible. * The necessity/value of including `Makefile`, `gem_make.out`, and `mkmf.log` files are questioned. * So the [pull request](https://github.com/ruby/rubygems/pull/2481) was created to omit these files when installing gems. * However, deleting these files might break compatibility, so the pull request was closed. * Note: There is an [entry](https://github.com/ruby/rubygems/blob/3e3addb8d222d23ac46ca3b1959b29b7b93b04...) about `mkmf.log` in the RubyGems' changelog: > ## 2.2.2 / 2014-02-05 > > ### Bug fixes: > > * [...] > * The `mkmf.log` is now placed next to `gem_make.out` when building extensions. * ##19329 * This points out that `gem install` installs `mkmf.log` file. * It was [transferred](https://github.com/ruby/rubygems/issues/6259) at RubyGems GitHub repository. * There are some issues related to this topic on the GNU Guix channel * For example, when I was packaging Ruby 4.0 for Guix, this reproducibility problem [occured](https://codeberg.org/guix/guix/pulls/5166). * There should be other workarounds in the Nix community, apparently. }} To wrap up, I think the followings are desirable: * Conventional file locations should be kept as is on the RubyGems side. * Just deleting these files breaks compatibilities. * These might be helpful when users report issues to gem owners with detailed information. * It is helpful if generated file contents are as reproducible as possible. * In some contexts where reproducibility matters, this issue makes packaging Ruby gems a bit harder. * Luckily, workarounds are possible in distribution package recipes such as deleting these files. * -> the component that generates `mkmf.log` is mkmf, so it might be resolvable by modifying mkmf itself. Thank you, gemmaro. -- https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/