Cannot start Build Engine

Platform Development
#1

As per title. This is a major problem with the latest SDK. I get caught in a loop with trying to start the Build Engine, it never starts. I have removed and reinstalled the SDK and I still have the same problem, Yet again, I am spending more time trying to get this to work than I do using it. While I’ve been typing this, I am still looking at “Connecting to the Sailfish SDK build engine virtual machine” but nothing is happening…oh wait!, what?, 4 minutes to start the build engine after at least 15 minutes of trying, I forget why I fired it up now, sigh. So pointless and frustrating. Any help, or no?, other than “yeah, leave mate”.

I almost forgot, now I have the Build Engine running, I am in the same position with stating QMLLiveBench, it takes forever to start or sometimes it just does not start. How am I meant to use this?, this is all very, very frustrating.

#2

If you’re on Windows with VirtualBox, maybe downgrade VB to a previous version if it’s related to this: Installing SDK on Windows : bash.exe cannot find ssh-keygen.exe - #8 by martyone

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#3

Thanks @orangecat, that worked!

#4

Once again, I’m at the same junction…waiting for “Connection to the Sailfish SDK build Engine” but nothing happens, everything was working fine a few hours ago. I’ve not changed any settings in SDK or Virtualbox.
I’ve restarted my PC and my device and still I’m waiting…why does this break so easily?, I’m forever uninstalling/reinstalling the entire thing to eventually get it working again, but why does this keep happening?, it’s really tiring.

This totally throws me, I have a new idea for something in my app but cannot execute it because of the same problem,…connecting to the build engine just sits there doing nothing.

The suggestion given above worked last time, but I ask myself why does the current version of Virtualbox decide to break after a few uses, so why downgrade/upgrade something that has been working flawlessly…how does Jolla expect anything to ever be produced by 3rd parties when the basics do not work, or at least work for a while then just fail…??

#5

If it broke even that your VirtualBox version is still the one that worked before, then you could try with the Tools > Options > Sailfish OS > Build Engine > No window option disabled. It has been reported that the emulators occasionally fail to boot when the headless mode is used, so it might be a related issue. VBox used to be a reliable platform. What happens in past few years on Windows is unfortunate but also rather out of our control. Considered to give a try to Docker?

#6

Thanks @martyone - the “no window” option is already ticked; so ticked means no window and unticked means window…so I unticked it and today’s first start up of SDK & VB have fired up without a hitch…hmmmm, I’m thinking you mean this option to be ticked (tick=disabled)?..?, is it me or is that a bit ambiguous?

While downloading the current SDK, I did consider using Docker option as I have not tried it yet, I’ll take a look for sure, my patience and sanity are wearing rather thin with the current VB/SDK state. I should also take a moment to appreciate how hard it must be keeping up with constant changes in software Jolla creates and uses, it boggles my mind, Ignore my whinging and whining. I don’t pretend to understand half of what you guys @HQ do.

#7

yup, it’s ticked (enabled) by default, hence my advice to try with this “No window” option disabled (unticked), i.e., with the window shown :slight_smile: Good that it helped. You could also try if changing some of the “System” settings of the VM under VirtualBox helps it start up without the window shown.

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#8

Yeah, I’ve got the same feeling ‘bro’ :wink: but since I’ve installed the latest SDK 3.9 version a second update went without issues and everything work as expected.

#9

In general, most updates for my device and SDK are not problematic, for me, it’s how the SDK seems to decay between sessions. This morning, I had some ideas about cleaning up my app, fired up SDK, got connected and implemented my ideas. Nice.

Went out to the shops, food, shopping, pay bills, etc, came home, made lunch and had some more app ideas…nearly an hour later, I can’t even get connected to build engine and when it did (fifteen minutes of trying) App Deployment failed for at least 5 builds, meanwhile my blood pressure is going interstellar. I’m so pumped, the veins on my hands look the the River Nile from outer space.

@martyone, sadly, it’s all gone full circle. Out of curiosity, I reticked the “no window” option in settings and all is working again for the next 5 minutes…hmmm, pesky Gremlins. Oh well, now we have no water either, power went off in the night, just waiting for internet to sod off as well. …sigh…Viva Espana!!..I’m going outside :wink: