Changes between Initial Version and Version 1 of Transfer the sources you need by USB-drive

Timestamp:

04/30/25 08:23:54 (4 weeks ago)

Author:

enno

Comment:

--

Transfer the sources you need by USB-drive

@@ +1 @@
+== Transfer the sources you need by USB-drive
+
+If you want to build everything from source on the CI/CD server, you must transfer:
+
+* Updated package definitions (e.g., new Guix commit / channel state)
+
+* All required source code (not binaries)
+
+=== Step 1: On a networked (twin) machine
+
+* Check for new versions
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix refresh PACKAGE-NAME
+}}}
+
+This will update the local package definition in your channel checkout (if you're maintaining your own channels or overlay packages).
+
+* Build the package to pull source code into the store
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix build --source PACKAGE-NAME
+}}}
+
+This ensures that all source tarballs and patches are downloaded and cached.
+
+* Export source code and channel state
+
+Export the source derivation (not the binaries!):
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix archive --export -r $(guix build --source PACKAGE-NAME) > sources.nar
+}}}
+
+Also export the updated Guix channels or commit used:
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix describe --format=channels > channels.scm
+}}}
+
+=== Step 2: Transfer to the air-gapped CI/CD server
+
+Copy the following files via USB or other air-gap-compliant method:
+
+* sources.nar (the archive of source derivations)
+
+* channels.scm (to sync channel state)
+
+* Optionally: your custom channel checkout (if using overlays)
+
+=== Step 3: On the CI/CD server
+
+* Sync channel state
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix time-machine -C channels.scm -- build PACKAGE-NAME
+}}}
+
+Or, if you want to pull into your main Guix:
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix pull --channels=channels.scm
+}}}
+
+* Import the sources
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix archive --import < sources.nar
+}}}
+
+Now the CI/CD server has all it needs to build the package from source without network access.
+
+=== Optional: Preload additional sources or dependencies
+
+To avoid surprises, you may want to pre-fetch all sources recursively:
+
+{{{#!sh
+guix build --sources=transitive PACKAGE-NAME
+guix archive --export -r $(guix build --sources=transitive PACKAGE-NAME) > all-sources.nar
+}}}
+
+This ensures no source fetch attempts will occur during CI builds.