Error when trying to access workspace_root field from a repository_ctx object.

[digit-google]

Description of the bug:

The documentation for repository_ctx states that it has a workspace_root field that returns a path to the top-level workspace directory.

When trying to use this inside an actual repository rule implementation, Bazel complains with an error that says:

Error: 'repository_ctx' value has no field or method 'workspace_root'

What's the simplest, easiest way to reproduce this bug? Please provide a minimal example if possible.

I have uploaded a minimal reproduction case here:
https://github.com/digit-google/bazel-experiments/tree/main/repository-rules/error-using-workspace_root

Which operating system are you running Bazel on?

Linux

What is the output of bazel info release?

Bazel 5.3.0rc1

If bazel info release returns development version or (@non-git), tell us how you built Bazel.

No response

What's the output of git remote get-url origin; git rev-parse master; git rev-parse HEAD ?

No response

Have you found anything relevant by searching the web?

No response

Any other information, logs, or outputs that you want to share?

I initially found the issue when using repository rule from a BzlMod module extension function, but could also reproduce it with simpler WORKSPACE directives.

For my project, I am currently working around the issue by using a hard-coded a relative path, which only works because we use a custom output_base that is in a parallel directory from the workspace one, but this is fragile, and not a general solution.

[fmeum]

It's available on HEAD, but the cherry-pick into 5.2.0 failed here and I don't think anybody has tried cherry-picking it into 5.3.0 again. You will probably have to wait for 6.0.0.

[digit-google]

Thanks, good to know it will be fixed eventually. I'll stick with my work-around until then :-)

[sgowroji]

@fmeum Thank you for sharing the resolution. @digit-google We are closing this issue now. Please feel free to reopen if you have any further queries.