Woodpecker CI: Fixing Failed Cron Jobs With GitHub & Codeberg

by Alex Johnson 62 views

Introduction

This article addresses a specific issue encountered when using Woodpecker CI with both GitHub and Codeberg, particularly when the same username is used across both platforms. The core problem revolves around failed cron jobs and user authentication issues, especially after integrating Codeberg as a second provider alongside an existing GitHub setup. This comprehensive guide will delve into the reported bug, its potential causes, steps to reproduce it, and offer suggestions for debugging and resolving the problem. If you're experiencing similar challenges with Woodpecker CI, understanding the intricacies of user management and provider interactions is crucial. By exploring this article, you'll gain valuable insights into diagnosing and rectifying these issues, ensuring the smooth operation of your CI/CD pipelines. This includes setting up multiple providers, managing user roles, and troubleshooting common errors that arise from conflicting user identities across different platforms. Ultimately, our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and practical steps necessary to maintain a robust and reliable Woodpecker CI environment, even in complex multi-provider scenarios. So, let’s dive into the specifics of this issue and equip you with the tools you need to resolve it effectively.

The Bug: Cron Jobs Failing and User Authentication Problems

The primary issue reported is that cron jobs within Woodpecker CI are failing to execute as scheduled. This problem seems to surface after adding Codeberg as a second authentication provider, especially when the same username is used on both GitHub and Codeberg. The error logs indicate issues such as user does not exist and sql: no rows in result set, suggesting a problem with how Woodpecker CI is handling user identification and authentication across multiple providers. Specifically, the user reported seeing errors similar to issue #4752, where POST actions often trigger user does not exist errors. The most critical symptom is the failure of cron jobs, which are configured to run at specific intervals (e.g., @hourly). The logs reveal error messages like:

woodpecker-server-1  | {"level":"error","error":"sql: no rows in result set","cronID":2,"time":"2025-11-29T21:00:06Z","message":"run cron failed"}
woodpecker-server-1  | {"level":"error","error":"user does not exist [uid: 0, name: ]","cronID":5,"time":"2025-11-29T21:00:06Z","message":"run cron failed"}
woodpecker-server-1  | {"level":"error","error":"sql: no rows in result set","cronID":2,"time":"2025-11-29T22:00:06Z","message":"run cron failed"}
woodpecker-server-1  | {"level":"error","error":"ignoring hook: 'when' filters filtered out all steps","cronID":6,"time":"2025-11-29T22:00:06Z","message":"run cron failed"}

These errors suggest a deeper problem with user recognition and cron job execution within Woodpecker CI. The combination of WOODPECKER_ADMIN settings and the presence of the same username across two providers seems to be a significant factor. The hypothesis is that when a user logs in via Codeberg, they are correctly recognized as an admin. However, when a cron job is created, there might be a mismatch between the user ID associated with the cron job and the repository user, leading to the cron job being saved with a null or incorrect user ID. This, in turn, causes the cron job to fail during execution due to the inability to match the job to a valid user. Understanding these error messages is the first step in diagnosing and addressing the issue. By analyzing the logs, we can begin to formulate a strategy for debugging and resolving these cron job failures and user authentication problems. The next section will explore the steps to reproduce this bug, which will further clarify the underlying cause and help in devising a solution.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue

To effectively diagnose and resolve this issue, replicating the bug in a controlled environment is essential. Here are the detailed steps to reproduce the failed cron jobs and user authentication problems in Woodpecker CI when using both GitHub and Codeberg with the same username:

  1. Set up Woodpecker CI with GitHub Authentication:
    • Configure Woodpecker CI to authenticate users via GitHub. This typically involves setting environment variables such as WOODPECKER_GITHUB_CLIENT and WOODPECKER_GITHUB_SECRET. The user with the designated username (e.g., sznowicki) should be configured as an admin using the WOODPECKER_ADMIN environment variable. This initial setup ensures that GitHub is the primary authentication provider.
  2. Integrate Codeberg as a Second Provider:
    • Add Codeberg as a second authentication provider in Woodpecker CI. This usually involves configuring the necessary settings in the Woodpecker admin panel or through environment variables. Ensure that Codeberg integration is correctly set up, allowing users to authenticate via their Codeberg accounts.
  3. Log Out and Log In as Codeberg User:
    • Log out of Woodpecker CI and then log back in using the Codeberg account with the same username (e.g., sznowicki). This step is crucial to simulate the scenario where the user is authenticated via Codeberg instead of GitHub. This helps in identifying if the authentication context affects cron job execution.
  4. Connect a Repository from Codeberg:
    • Connect a repository from Codeberg to Woodpecker CI. This step involves enabling the repository in Woodpecker CI, allowing it to trigger pipelines and cron jobs. Connecting a Codeberg repository ensures that the cron job context is within the Codeberg environment.
  5. Set Up a Cron Job:
    • Create a new cron job for the connected Codeberg repository. Configure the cron job to run at a specific interval (e.g., @hourly). This is the critical step where the bug manifests, as the cron job's execution context might not align with the authenticated user context.
  6. Observe Cron Job Failures:
    • Wait for the cron job to execute and observe the logs. The expected behavior is that the cron job will fail with errors such as user does not exist or sql: no rows in result set. These errors indicate that the cron job is not being executed under the correct user context, leading to authentication and data retrieval issues.

By following these steps, you can reliably reproduce the bug and gain a clearer understanding of the underlying issue. Reproducing the bug is the first step towards finding a solution, as it allows you to test different approaches and verify their effectiveness. The next section will explore the expected behavior and the discrepancies that highlight the bug's impact.

Expected Behavior vs. Actual Behavior

Understanding the expected behavior versus the actual behavior is crucial in pinpointing the root cause of the issue. In this scenario, the expectation is that a cron job created in a Codeberg repository within Woodpecker CI should run seamlessly, regardless of whether the user has the same username on GitHub (which is also integrated). Ideally, the cron job should execute under the context of the authenticated Codeberg user, with all necessary permissions and access rights. This means that Woodpecker CI should correctly identify and authorize the user associated with the cron job, ensuring that the job runs as intended. The expected behavior includes:

  • Successful Cron Job Execution: The cron job should run at the scheduled interval without any errors related to user authentication or data retrieval.
  • Correct User Context: The cron job should be executed under the context of the Codeberg user who created it, with the appropriate permissions and access to the repository.
  • No Authentication Errors: There should be no user does not exist or similar authentication-related errors in the logs.
  • Consistent Behavior: The cron job should run consistently, regardless of whether the user is also authenticated via GitHub or other providers.

However, the actual behavior deviates significantly from these expectations. As described earlier, the cron jobs fail to run, and the logs are filled with error messages that indicate a problem with user authentication and data retrieval. The key discrepancies between the expected and actual behavior are:

  • Cron Job Failures: Instead of running successfully, the cron jobs fail with errors such as sql: no rows in result set and user does not exist [uid: 0, name: ].
  • Incorrect User Context: The cron jobs appear to be running under an incorrect or null user context, leading to authorization failures.
  • Authentication Errors: The user does not exist errors suggest that Woodpecker CI is unable to correctly identify and authenticate the user associated with the cron job.
  • Inconsistent Behavior: The issue seems to be triggered specifically when Codeberg is added as a second provider and the user has the same username on both platforms, indicating a potential conflict in user identification.

These discrepancies highlight a significant bug in how Woodpecker CI handles user authentication and cron job execution in a multi-provider environment. Identifying these differences is essential for focusing debugging efforts and developing a solution that aligns the actual behavior with the expected behavior. The next section will delve into potential causes and suggest debugging strategies to address this issue effectively.

Potential Causes and Debugging Strategies

Given the symptoms and the steps to reproduce the bug, several potential causes could be contributing to the failed cron jobs and user authentication issues in Woodpecker CI. Understanding these potential causes is crucial for developing effective debugging strategies. Here are some of the likely culprits and how to investigate them:

  1. User ID Conflicts Across Providers:
    • Potential Cause: When a user exists on both GitHub and Codeberg with the same username, Woodpecker CI might be assigning different user IDs internally. This can lead to confusion when a cron job is created under one provider's context but executed under another, resulting in authentication failures.
    • Debugging Strategy:
      • Inspect User IDs: Check the user IDs assigned to the user in the Woodpecker CI database for both GitHub and Codeberg. This can be done by querying the database directly or using Woodpecker CI's API (if available).
      • Log User Context: Add logging to the cron job execution process to output the user ID and provider context. This will help determine if the cron job is being executed under the correct user.
  2. Incorrect Cron Job User Association:
    • Potential Cause: The cron job might be created without correctly associating it with the user who created it. This could happen if the user's session or authentication context is not properly propagated during cron job creation.
    • Debugging Strategy:
      • Review Cron Job Creation Logic: Examine the code responsible for creating cron jobs to ensure that the user's ID is correctly associated with the cron job record.
      • Database Inspection: Check the database to verify that the cron job record contains the correct user ID.
  3. Authentication Context Switching Issues:
    • Potential Cause: Woodpecker CI might not be correctly switching between authentication contexts when handling cron jobs for different providers. This can lead to a situation where a cron job created under the Codeberg context is executed under the GitHub context, or vice versa.
    • Debugging Strategy:
      • Session Management: Investigate how Woodpecker CI manages user sessions and authentication contexts. Ensure that the correct context is being loaded when a cron job is executed.
      • Provider-Specific Logic: Review the code that handles provider-specific authentication and authorization to identify any potential issues in context switching.
  4. Database Query Issues:
    • Potential Cause: The sql: no rows in result set error suggests that database queries related to user retrieval or cron job execution might be failing. This could be due to incorrect query logic, database inconsistencies, or data corruption.
    • Debugging Strategy:
      • Examine SQL Queries: Log the SQL queries being executed during cron job execution and analyze them for correctness. Use database tools to run these queries manually and check for errors.
      • Database Integrity: Check the integrity of the Woodpecker CI database and look for any inconsistencies or corrupted data.
  5. WOODPECKER_ADMIN Configuration Conflicts:
    • Potential Cause: The WOODPECKER_ADMIN environment variable might be causing conflicts when a user with the same username exists on multiple providers. Woodpecker CI might be prioritizing the GitHub user (due to initial setup) over the Codeberg user, leading to authentication issues.
    • Debugging Strategy:
      • Temporary Disabling: Temporarily disable the WOODPECKER_ADMIN setting and see if the issue persists. This will help determine if the admin configuration is a contributing factor.
      • Admin Role Logic: Review the code that handles admin roles and permissions to identify any potential conflicts in user identification.

By systematically investigating these potential causes and employing the suggested debugging strategies, you can narrow down the root cause of the issue and develop a targeted solution. Effective debugging requires a combination of log analysis, code review, database inspection, and systematic testing. The next section will outline some potential solutions based on these causes.

Potential Solutions

Based on the potential causes identified, several solutions can be explored to address the failed cron jobs and user authentication issues in Woodpecker CI. These solutions range from configuration adjustments to code-level fixes. Here are some of the most promising approaches:

  1. Implement Provider-Specific User IDs:
    • Solution: Modify Woodpecker CI to use provider-specific user IDs. This means that instead of relying on a single user ID across all providers, Woodpecker CI should maintain separate IDs for each provider (e.g., github_user_id and codeberg_user_id).
    • Implementation:
      • Update the database schema to include provider-specific user ID columns.
      • Modify the user authentication and creation logic to handle provider-specific IDs.
      • Update the cron job creation and execution logic to use the correct provider-specific user ID.
  2. Enhance User Context Management:
    • Solution: Improve how Woodpecker CI manages user contexts, especially when switching between providers. This involves ensuring that the correct authentication context is loaded when a cron job is executed.
    • Implementation:
      • Review and refactor the session management code to ensure proper context switching.
      • Implement a mechanism to explicitly load the provider context when executing a cron job.
      • Add logging to track the user context during cron job execution for debugging purposes.
  3. Improve Cron Job User Association:
    • Solution: Ensure that cron jobs are correctly associated with the user who created them, regardless of the provider.
    • Implementation:
      • Review the cron job creation logic to ensure that the user's ID is correctly stored with the cron job record.
      • Implement validation checks to prevent the creation of cron jobs without a valid user association.
      • Add database constraints to enforce the user association.
  4. Refine Database Query Logic:
    • Solution: Address the sql: no rows in result set errors by refining the database query logic used during cron job execution.
    • Implementation:
      • Review and optimize the SQL queries used to retrieve user and cron job data.
      • Add error handling and logging to capture and diagnose database query failures.
      • Use database debugging tools to analyze query performance and identify potential issues.
  5. Adjust WOODPECKER_ADMIN Configuration:
    • Solution: Re-evaluate how the WOODPECKER_ADMIN environment variable is used and consider alternative approaches for managing admin roles in a multi-provider environment.
    • Implementation:
      • Implement a more flexible admin role management system that can handle users from multiple providers.
      • Use provider-specific admin flags or roles instead of relying solely on the WOODPECKER_ADMIN variable.
      • Provide a user interface for managing admin roles within Woodpecker CI.
  6. Implement Data Migration:
    • Solution: If user ID conflicts have already occurred, implement a data migration strategy to correct the user associations in the database.
    • Implementation:
      • Develop a script to identify and correct user ID inconsistencies in the database.
      • Test the migration script in a staging environment before applying it to production.
      • Back up the database before running the migration script.

By implementing these solutions, Woodpecker CI can better handle user authentication and cron job execution in multi-provider environments. Choosing the right solution or combination of solutions will depend on the specific root cause of the issue. Thorough testing and validation are essential to ensure that the chosen solution effectively addresses the problem without introducing new issues. To complement the information presented here, you might find valuable insights and discussions on related topics on external resources such as the Woodpecker CI Documentation, which can further enhance your understanding and troubleshooting efforts. Addressing this bug will improve the reliability and usability of Woodpecker CI, especially for organizations that leverage multiple authentication providers. Ultimately, this will lead to a more robust and efficient CI/CD pipeline.