The Problem with Building the FFI in CI

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 142 views

Introduction

In the context of Continuous Integration (CI), it's essential to ensure that the build process is reliable and efficient. One aspect of this is managing dependencies, such as the Foreign Function Interface (FFI), which is a crucial component of our project. In this article, we'll discuss a proposal to improve the CI build process by failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI.

Background

Our project relies on released versions of the FFI, which are automatically downloaded from GitHub releases. However, our makefiles are designed to build the FFI from source, which means it's possible to update the FFI to an unreleased version. While this flexibility might seem beneficial, it can lead to wasted CI time rebuilding the FFI from source each time. To mitigate this issue, we propose failing the build job if downloading the FFI fails instead of automatically building the FFI from source.

The Problem with Building the FFI in CI

Building the FFI in CI can lead to several issues:

Wasted CI time: Rebuilding the FFI from source each time can significantly increase the CI build time, leading to wasted resources and decreased efficiency.
Inconsistent builds: Building the FFI from source can result in inconsistent builds, as the FFI version might change between CI runs, affecting the overall build process.
Security risks: Building the FFI from source can introduce security risks, as the FFI code might contain vulnerabilities or bugs that are not present in the released versions.

The Proposal: Fail the Build Job if Downloading the FFI Fails

To address the issues mentioned above, we propose failing the build job if downloading the FFI fails instead of automatically building the FFI from source. This approach ensures that the build process is reliable and efficient, as the FFI version will be consistent across CI runs.

Benefits of the Proposal

The proposed approach offers several benefits:

Improved build efficiency: Failing the build job if downloading the FFI fails ensures that the build process is not delayed by rebuilding the FFI from source.
Consistent builds: By using released versions of the FFI, we can ensure that the build process is consistent across CI runs, reducing the risk of build failures.
Enhanced security: Using released versions of the FFI reduces the risk of security vulnerabilities or bugs being introduced into the build process.

Implementation

To implement the proposed approach, we can modify the CI build script to:

Check if the FFI is available: Before starting the build process, the script checks if the FFI is available in the released version.
Fail the build job if the FFI is not available: If the FFI is not available, the script fails the build job, indicating that the FFI version is not compatible with the build process.
Use the released version of the FFI: If the FFI is available, the script uses the released version of the FFI to build the project.

Conclusion

In conclusion, failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI is a crucial step in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the build process. By using released versions of the FFI and failing the build job if downloading the FFI fails, we can reduce the risk of build failures, improve build efficiency, and enhance security. We believe that this proposal will significantly improve the CI build process and make it more efficient and reliable.

Future Work

To further improve the CI build process, we propose the following:

Automate the FFI versioning process: We can automate the FFI versioning process to ensure that the FFI version is consistent across CI runs.
Implement a fallback mechanism: We can implement a fallback mechanism to ensure that the build process continues even if the FFI is not available.
Monitor the build process: We can monitor the build process to identify any issues or bottlenecks and make necessary adjustments to improve the build efficiency.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed a proposal to improve the CI build process by failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI. In this article, we'll address some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this proposal.

Q: Why do we need to fail the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI?

A: Failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI ensures that the build process is reliable and efficient. By using released versions of the FFI, we can reduce the risk of build failures, improve build efficiency, and enhance security.

Q: What are the benefits of using released versions of the FFI?

A: Using released versions of the FFI offers several benefits, including:

Improved build efficiency: Released versions of the FFI are tested and validated, reducing the risk of build failures.
Consistent builds: Released versions of the FFI ensure that the build process is consistent across CI runs, reducing the risk of build failures.
Enhanced security: Released versions of the FFI reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities or bugs being introduced into the build process.

Q: How will failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI affect our development process?

A: Failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI will not affect our development process. Instead, it will ensure that the build process is reliable and efficient, allowing developers to focus on writing code and testing features.

Q: What are the potential risks of failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI?

A: The potential risks of failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI include:

Delayed builds: Failing the build job may delay the build process, affecting the overall development cycle.
Increased build time: Failing the build job may increase the build time, affecting the overall development cycle.

Q: How can we mitigate the risks of failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI?

A: To mitigate the risks of failing the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI, we can:

Implement a fallback mechanism: Implement a fallback mechanism to ensure that the build process continues even if the FFI is not available.
Monitor the build process: Monitor the build process to identify any issues or bottlenecks and make necessary adjustments to improve the build efficiency.
Automate the FFI versioning process: Automate the FFI versioning process to ensure that the FFI version is consistent across CI runs.

Q: What are the next steps in implementing the proposal to fail the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI?

A: The next steps in implementing the proposal to fail the build job if we have to build the FFI in CI include:

Modifying the CI build script: Modify the CI build script to check if the FFI is available and fail the build job if it is not.
Implementing a fallback mechanism: Implement a fallback mechanism to ensure that the build process continues even if the FFI is not available.
Monitoring the build process: Monitor the build process to identify any issues or bottlenecks and make necessary adjustments to improve the build efficiency.

Conclusion

Future Work

To further improve the CI build process, we propose the following:

Automate the FFI versioning process: Automate the FFI versioning process to ensure that the FFI version is consistent across CI runs.
Implement a fallback mechanism: Implement a fallback mechanism to ensure that the build process continues even if the FFI is not available.
Monitor the build process: Monitor the build process to identify any issues or bottlenecks and make necessary adjustments to improve the build efficiency.

By implementing these proposals, we can further improve the CI build process and make it more efficient, reliable, and secure.