Found against: gren 0.6.6, gren-lang/compiler-node 5.0.0, gren-lang/core 7.4.2, gren-lang/node 6.1.3, node 22
Reproduction: https://github.com/gilramir/gren-bug-reports/tree/main/2026-09-16-lock-vanishes-during-metadata
Taking a lock that another process holds only briefly often ends in
UnexpectedError, when it should end with the lock taken or AlreadyLocked.
aquire creates the lock directory; if it exists, it reads its metadata to see
whether the lock is stale. If the other process removes the lock in between,
metadata fails with ENOENT, and the handler that means to retry tests for
the wrong error.
Reproduction
gren.json: a node application with "gren-lang/compiler-node": "5.0.0", "gren-lang/core": "7.4.2", "gren-lang/node": "6.1.3" (indirect "gren-lang/compiler-common": "3.0.0", "gren-lang/url": "6.0.0").
churn.js stands in for another process that holds the lock very briefly:
// Create and remove ./.lock in a tight loop, as another process holding the
// lock very briefly would.
const fs = require("node:fs");
for (;;) {
try { fs.mkdirSync(".lock"); } catch (e) {}
try { fs.rmdirSync(".lock"); } catch (e) {}
}
src/Main.gren tries to take the lock 2000 times, without retries, releasing it
whenever it gets it, and counts how each attempt ended:
(source elided here as it's very long)
gren make Main --output=app
node churn.js &
node app
Output (counts vary with timing):
outcome count
UnexpectedError ENOENT 953
already locked 156
lock acquired 891
Cause
LockMetaCheck { path, attempt, result = Err fsErr } ->
if FileSystem.errorIsFileExists fsErr then
-- Lock might have been removed while we asked for metadata
update fsPerm (Lock { path = fromLockPath path, attempt = attempt + 1 }) model
else
UnexpectedError { path = fromLockPath path, error = fsErr }
The comment describes the right recovery, but reading a directory's metadata
never fails with EEXIST, so a lock that has been removed takes the else
branch.
Proposed Fix
The check should be FileSystem.errorIsNoSuchFileOrDirectory
With it, the same program gave 325 already locked and 1675 lock acquired.
Found against:
gren0.6.6,gren-lang/compiler-node5.0.0,gren-lang/core7.4.2,gren-lang/node6.1.3, node 22Reproduction: https://github.com/gilramir/gren-bug-reports/tree/main/2026-09-16-lock-vanishes-during-metadata
Taking a lock that another process holds only briefly often ends in
UnexpectedError, when it should end with the lock taken orAlreadyLocked.aquirecreates the lock directory; if it exists, it reads its metadata to seewhether the lock is stale. If the other process removes the lock in between,
metadatafails withENOENT, and the handler that means to retry tests forthe wrong error.
Reproduction
gren.json: a node application with"gren-lang/compiler-node": "5.0.0", "gren-lang/core": "7.4.2", "gren-lang/node": "6.1.3"(indirect"gren-lang/compiler-common": "3.0.0", "gren-lang/url": "6.0.0").churn.jsstands in for another process that holds the lock very briefly:src/Main.grentries to take the lock 2000 times, without retries, releasing itwhenever it gets it, and counts how each attempt ended:
(source elided here as it's very long)
gren make Main --output=app node churn.js & node appOutput (counts vary with timing):
Cause
The comment describes the right recovery, but reading a directory's metadata
never fails with
EEXIST, so a lock that has been removed takes theelsebranch.
Proposed Fix
The check should be
FileSystem.errorIsNoSuchFileOrDirectoryWith it, the same program gave 325
already lockedand 1675lock acquired.