Ignore .condarc files during installation

constructor/header.sh

@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ if [ "__VIRTUAL_SPECS__" != "" ]; then
     CONDA_QUIET="$BATCH" \
     CONDA_SOLVER="classic" \
     CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$(mktemp -d)" \
-    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX/envs/_virtual_specs_checks" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__
+    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX/envs/_virtual_specs_checks" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__ __NO_RCS_ARG__
 fi
 
 # Create $PREFIX/.nonadmin if the installation didn't require superuser permissions
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ CONDA_EXTRA_SAFETY_CHECKS=no \
 CONDA_CHANNELS="__CHANNELS__" \
 CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$PREFIX/pkgs" \
 CONDA_QUIET="$BATCH" \
-"$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "$PREFIX/pkgs/env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX" $shortcuts || exit 1
+"$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "$PREFIX/pkgs/env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX" $shortcuts __NO_RCS_ARG__ || exit 1
 rm -f "$PREFIX/pkgs/env.txt"
 
 #The templating doesn't support nested if statements
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ for env_pkgs in "${PREFIX}"/pkgs/envs/*/; do
     CONDA_CHANNELS="$env_channels" \
     CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$PREFIX/pkgs" \
     CONDA_QUIET="$BATCH" \
-    "$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "${env_pkgs}env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX/envs/$env_name" $env_shortcuts || exit 1
+    "$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "${env_pkgs}env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX/envs/$env_name" $env_shortcuts __NO_RCS_ARG__ || exit 1
     rm -f "${env_pkgs}env.txt"
 done
 #endif

constructor/main.py

@@ -199,6 +199,15 @@ def main_build(dir_path, output_dir='.', platform=cc_platform,
             )
         )
 
+    # Add --no-rc option to CONDA_EXE command so that existing
+    # .condarc files do not pollute the installation process.
+    if exe_type == StandaloneExe.CONDA and exe_version and exe_version >= Version("24.9.0"):
+        info["_ignore_condarcs_arg"] = "--no-rc"
+    elif exe_type == StandaloneExe.MAMBA:
+        info["_ignore_condarcs_arg"] = "--no-rc"
+    else:
+        info["_ignore_condarcs_arg"] = ""
+
     if 'pkg' in itypes:
         if (domains := info.get('pkg_domains')) is not None:
             domains = {key: str(val).lower() for key, val in domains.items()}

constructor/nsis/main.nsi.tmpl

@@ -1263,7 +1263,7 @@ Section "Install"
     System::Call 'kernel32::SetEnvironmentVariable(t,t)i("CONDA_SOLVER", "classic").r0'
     SetDetailsPrint TextOnly
     ${Print} "Checking virtual specs compatibility: @VIRTUAL_SPECS_DEBUG@"
-    push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" create --dry-run --prefix "$INSTDIR\envs\_virtual_specs_checks" --offline @VIRTUAL_SPECS@'
+    push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" create --dry-run --prefix "$INSTDIR\envs\_virtual_specs_checks" --offline @VIRTUAL_SPECS@ @NO_RCS_ARG@'
     push 'Failed to check virtual specs: @VIRTUAL_SPECS_DEBUG@'
     push 'WithLog'
     call AbortRetryNSExecWait
@@ -1325,7 +1325,7 @@ Section "Install"
 
     ${If} $Ana_ClearPkgCache_State = ${BST_CHECKED}
         ${Print} "Clearing package cache..."
-        push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" clean --all --force-pkgs-dirs --yes'
+        push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" clean --all --force-pkgs-dirs --yes @NO_RCS_ARG@'
         push 'Failed to clear package cache'
         push 'WithLog'
         call AbortRetryNSExecWait

constructor/osx/prepare_installation.sh

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ if [ "__VIRTUAL_SPECS__" != "" ]; then
     notify 'Checking virtual specs compatibility: __VIRTUAL_SPECS__'
     CONDA_SOLVER="classic" \
     CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$(mktemp -d)" \
-    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX/envs/_virtual_specs_checks" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__
+    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX/envs/_virtual_specs_checks" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__ __NO_RCS_ARG__
 fi
 
 # Create $PREFIX/.nonadmin if the installation didn't require superuser permissions

constructor/osx/run_installation.sh

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ CONDA_SAFETY_CHECKS=disabled \
 CONDA_EXTRA_SAFETY_CHECKS=no \
 CONDA_CHANNELS=__CHANNELS__ \
 CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$PREFIX/pkgs" \
-"$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "$PREFIX/pkgs/env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX" $shortcuts; then
+"$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "$PREFIX/pkgs/env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX" $shortcuts __NO_RCS_ARG__; then
     echo "ERROR: could not complete the conda install"
     exit 1
 fi
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ for env_pkgs in "${PREFIX}"/pkgs/envs/*/; do
     CONDA_EXTRA_SAFETY_CHECKS=no \
     CONDA_CHANNELS="$env_channels" \
     CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$PREFIX/pkgs" \
-    "$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "${env_pkgs}env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX/envs/$env_name" $env_shortcuts || exit 1
+    "$CONDA_EXEC" install --offline --file "${env_pkgs}env.txt" -yp "$PREFIX/envs/$env_name" $env_shortcuts __NO_RCS_ARG__ || exit 1
     # Move the prepackaged history file into place
     mv "${env_pkgs}/conda-meta/history" "$PREFIX/envs/$env_name/conda-meta/history"
     rm -f "${env_pkgs}env.txt"

constructor/osxpkg.py

@@ -345,6 +345,7 @@ def move_script(src, dst, info, ensure_shebang=False, user_script_type=None):
         'ENABLE_SHORTCUTS': str(info['_enable_shortcuts']).lower(),
         'REGISTER_ENVS': str(info.get("register_envs", True)).lower(),
         'VIRTUAL_SPECS': shlex.join(info.get("virtual_specs", ())),
+        'NO_RCS_ARG': info.get('_ignore_condarcs_arg', ''),
     }
     data = preprocess(data, ppd)
     custom_variables = info.get('script_env_variables', {})

constructor/shar.py

@@ -94,7 +94,8 @@ def get_header(conda_exec, tarball, info):
         'SHORTCUTS': shortcuts_flags(info),
         'REGISTER_ENVS': str(info.get("register_envs", True)).lower(),
         'TOTAL_INSTALLATION_SIZE_KB': str(approx_size_kb(info, "total")),
-        'VIRTUAL_SPECS': shlex.join(info.get("virtual_specs", ()))
+        'VIRTUAL_SPECS': shlex.join(info.get("virtual_specs", ())),
+        'NO_RCS_ARG': info.get('_ignore_condarcs_arg', ''),
     }
     if has_license:
         replace['LICENSE'] = read_ascii_only(info['license_file'])

constructor/winexe.py

@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ def setup_envs_commands(info, dir_path):
         # Run conda install
         ${{If}} $Ana_CreateShortcuts_State = ${{BST_CHECKED}}
             ${{Print}} "Installing packages for {name}, creating shortcuts if necessary..."
-            push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" install --offline -yp "{prefix}" --file "{env_txt}" {shortcuts}'
+            push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" install --offline -yp "{prefix}" --file "{env_txt}" {shortcuts} {no_rcs_arg}'
         ${{Else}}
             ${{Print}} "Installing packages for {name}..."
-            push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" install --offline -yp "{prefix}" --file "{env_txt}" --no-shortcuts'
+            push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" install --offline -yp "{prefix}" --file "{env_txt}" --no-shortcuts {no_rcs_arg}'
         ${{EndIf}}
         push 'Failed to link extracted packages to {prefix}!'
         push 'WithLog'
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ def setup_envs_commands(info, dir_path):
         channels=','.join(get_final_channels(info)),
         shortcuts=shortcuts_flags(info),
         register_envs=str(info.get("register_envs", True)).lower(),
+        no_rcs_arg=info.get("_ignore_condarcs_arg", ""),
     ).splitlines()
     # now we generate one more block per extra env, if present
     for env_name in info.get("_extra_envs_info", {}):
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ def setup_envs_commands(info, dir_path):
             channels=",".join(get_final_channels(channel_info)),
             shortcuts=shortcuts_flags(env_info),
             register_envs=str(info.get("register_envs", True)).lower(),
+            no_rcs_arg=info.get("_ignore_condarcs_arg", ""),
         ).splitlines()
 
     return [line.strip() for line in lines]
@@ -404,6 +406,7 @@ def make_nsi(
         # This is the same but without quotes so we can print it fine
         ('@VIRTUAL_SPECS_DEBUG@', " ".join([spec for spec in info.get("virtual_specs", ())])),
         ('@LICENSEFILENAME@', basename(info.get('license_file', 'placeholder_license.txt'))),
+        ('@NO_RCS_ARG@', info.get('_ignore_condarcs_arg', '')),
     ]:
         data = data.replace(key, value)
 

news/863-ignore-condarc-files

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* Ignore pre-existing .condarc files to prevent these configuration files from interfering with the installation process. (#542 and #568 via #863)
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>

tests/test_examples.py

@@ -842,3 +842,47 @@ def test_virtual_specs_ok(tmp_path, request):
             check_subprocess=True,
             uninstall=True,
         )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(
+    CONDA_EXE == StandaloneExe.CONDA and CONDA_EXE_VERSION < Version("24.9.0"),
+    reason="Pre-existing .condarc breaks installation",
+)
+def test_ignore_condarc_files(tmp_path, monkeypatch, request):
+    # Create a bogus .condarc file that would result in errors if read.
+    # conda searches inside XDG_CONFIG_HOME on all systems, which is a
+    # a safer directory to monkeypatch, especially on Windows where patching
+    # HOME or USERPROFILE breaks installer builds.
+    # mamba does not search this directory, so use HOME as a fallback.
+    # Since micromamba is not supported on Windows, this is not a problem.
+    if CONDA_EXE == StandaloneExe.MAMBA:
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        condarc = tmp_path / ".condarc"
+    else:
+        monkeypatch.setenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        condarc = tmp_path / "conda" / ".condarc"
+    condarc.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    condarc.write_text("safety_checks:\n  - very safe\n")
+    recipe_path = _example_path("customize_controls")
+    input_path = tmp_path / "input"
+    shutil.copytree(str(recipe_path), str(input_path))
+    # Rewrite installer name to avoid duplicate artifacts
+    construct_yaml = input_path / "construct.yaml"
+    content = construct_yaml.read_text()
+    construct_yaml.write_text(content.replace("name: NoCondaOptions", "name: NoCondaRC"))
+    for installer, install_dir in create_installer(input_path, tmp_path):
+        proc = _run_installer(
+            input_path,
+            installer,
+            install_dir,
+            request=request,
+            check_subprocess=True,
+            uninstall=True,
+        )
+        if CONDA_EXE == StandaloneExe.MAMBA and installer.suffix == ".sh":
+            # micromamba loads the rc files even for constructor subcommands.
+            # This cannot be turned off with --no-rc, which causes four errors
+            # in stderr. If there are more, other micromamba calls have read
+            # the bogus .condarc file.
+            # pkg installers unfortunately do not output any errors into the log.
+            assert proc.stderr.count("Bad conversion of configurable") == 4