"No module named 'msvcrt'" on Ubuntu 20.04 self-hosted runner

[mikedalton]

Description:

When following instructions to set up an Ubuntu 20.04 self-hosted runner's tool cache with Python 3.10, subsequently running a workflow that checks out the repo, sets up python, sets up the scottbrenner/cfn-lint-action@v2 action, and then runs cfn-lint --version results in the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.10.0/x64/lib/python3.10/subprocess.py", line 69, in <module>
    import msvcrt
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'msvcrt'

Deploying the Python tool cache into the Actions runner client's _work/_tool directory results in a successful run of cfn-lint --version, but then with other workflows encounters errors building Docker containers.

Action version:

actions/setup-python@v2

Platform:

• Ubuntu
• macOS
• Windows

Runner type:

• Hosted
• Self-hosted

Tools version:

3.10 (others untested)

Repro steps:

1. Build tool cache with following workflow step:

      - name: Setup Python 3.10
        uses: actions/setup-python@v2
        with:
          python-version: '3.10'

2. As per setup-python instructions for deploying to hosted tool cache on Linux, copy and extract artifact to /opt/hostedtoolcache/

3. Attempt to run the following workflow:

    steps:
      - name: Checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v2

      - name: Install Python
        uses: actions/setup-python@v2
        with:
          python-version: '3.x'

      - name: Setup Cloud Formation Linter with Latest Version
        uses: scottbrenner/cfn-lint-action@v2

      - name: Print the Cloud Formation Linter Version & run Linter.
        run: |
          cfn-lint --version
          cfn-lint

Expected behavior:

Successful run of second workflow, with an output similar to the following:

cfn-lint 0.55.0

Actual behavior:

Receive output similar to the following:

/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.10.0/x64/bin/python3 --version
Python 3.10.0
/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.10.0/x64/bin/python3 -m venv /tmp/setup-cfn-lint-3DRQLm/.venv
Could not find platform dependent libraries <exec_prefix>
Consider setting $PYTHONHOME to <prefix>[:<exec_prefix>]
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.10.0/x64/lib/python3.10/subprocess.py", line 69, in <module>
    import msvcrt
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'msvcrt'
....
  File "/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.10.0/x64/lib/python3.10/subprocess.py", line 74, in <module>
    import _posixsubprocess
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_posixsubprocess'

The output is very unusual, as it references module msvcrt (Microsoft VC++ runtime), despite nothing in the workflow, Python build, or Actions runner involving Windows or the VC++ runtime.

[misbahfhm]

how was it?
Was it solved?

I have a same problem there

[vineet-codes256]

I am also facing the same issue…

[sanxchep]

same and im using on Ubuntu 20.04

[dsame]

Hello @mikedalton,
I do not clearly understand your self-hosted agent setup. The README mentions AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY variable and i see no use of it in your steps.

As a quick workaround, please try your workflow avoiding AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY at all. See the sample build to understand what i mean:

https://github.com/akv-platform/python-msvcrt/runs/5880925955?check_suite_focus=true
and the corresponding workflow
https://github.com/akv-platform/python-msvcrt/actions/runs/2113585786/workflow

Despite it works or does not, please describe your current setup in order we could improve the documentation

1. You've created /opt/hostedtoolcache and gran write permission on it to runner user - yes/no?
2. You've run actions/setup-python@v2 with

      - name: Setup python
        uses: actions/setup-python@v2
        with:
          python-version: '3.x'
        env:
          AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY: /opt/hostedtoolcache

yes/no?

WARN: you may face Error: Version 3.10.4 with arch x64 not found message on the 2nd step. In the case please wait for #338 to be merged

[dsame]

Hello @mikedalton,
Just a gentle ping, we could use an update on this issue :)

[marko-zivic-93]

Hello @mikedalton
Due to the lack of response, I am going to close this issue :)
If you have any additional problems or concerns, please feel free to reopen it or to create a new one.