[Bug 2067157] [NEW] Cannot set cpp alternatives link

[Miren Radia]

Public bug reported:

Copied from my Ubuntu answers question:

After starting the interactive docker container on my host machine using

docker container run -it ubuntu:noble /bin/bash

I ran the following commands

1. apt update
2. apt install cpp
3. update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/cpp cpp /usr/bin/cpp-13 13

I get the following output from the last command

update-alternatives: renaming cpp link from /lib/cpp to /usr/bin/cpp
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/cpp-13 to provide /usr/bin/cpp (cpp) in auto mode
update-alternatives: error: cannot stat file '/etc/alternatives/cpp': Too many levels of symbolic links

The link /usr/bin/cpp also no longer exists.

The above commands work fine in the Ubuntu 22.04 docker container (well
with cpp-11).

** Affects: gcc-defaults (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Package changed: ubuntu => gcc-defaults (Ubuntu)

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2067157

Title:
  Cannot set cpp alternatives link

Status in gcc-defaults package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Copied from my Ubuntu answers question:

  After starting the interactive docker container on my host machine
  using

  docker container run -it ubuntu:noble /bin/bash

  I ran the following commands

  1. apt update
  2. apt install cpp
  3. update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/cpp cpp /usr/bin/cpp-13 13

  I get the following output from the last command

  update-alternatives: renaming cpp link from /lib/cpp to /usr/bin/cpp
  update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/cpp-13 to provide /usr/bin/cpp (cpp) in auto mode
  update-alternatives: error: cannot stat file '/etc/alternatives/cpp': Too many levels of symbolic links

  The link /usr/bin/cpp also no longer exists.

  The above commands work fine in the Ubuntu 22.04 docker container
  (well with cpp-11).

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