dune-site-depending libraries cannot be used in non-dune projects

[glondu]

Expected Behavior

Libraries using dune-site can be used in non-dune projects.

Actual Behavior

dune-site-depending libraries depend on a Dune_site__Dune_site_data module whose implementation does not exist.

Reproduction

In Debian, virt-top depends on gettext which depends on dune-site. However, virt-top does not use dune (only ocamlfind) and the final linking step fails with:

File "_none_", line 1:
Error: No implementation provided for the following modules:
         Dune_site__Dune_site_data referenced from Dune_site__Helpers (/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ocaml/5.3.0/dune-site/dune_site.cmxa)
ocamlopt returned with exit code 2

My understanding is that, when using dune, this module is generated by dune. I'm not sure, and I did not investigate on why this is needed, but it this is the case, it looks like a defect somewhere.

Specifications

• Version of dune (output of dune --version): 3.17.2
• Version of ocaml (output of ocamlc --version): 5.3.0
• Operating system (distribution and version): Debian sid

Additional information

• Version of gettext: 0.5.0
• Version of virt-top: 1.1.1
• Initial report: https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/[email protected]

[maiste]

Thanks for reporting!
I'm not sure dune-site is meant to be used outside of dune... @rgrinberg what are the expectations about it?

[rgrinberg]

It is generated by dune, but only when it links the final binary. dune-site is indeed dune only and other build systems would have to provide their own implementation for this module.

[Leonidas-from-XIV]

So I guess we can close this as WONTFIX as for the fix other build systems would need to start supporting dune-site?

[maiste]

Indeed! Feel free to reopen if you think this is necessary.