feat(startup): validate --listen address

Problem:
`nvim --listen` does not error on EADDRINUSE. #30123

Solution:
Now that `$NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS` is deprecated and input *only* (instead
of the old, ambiguous situation where it was both an input *and* an
output), we can be fail fast instead of trying to "recover". This
reverts the "recovery" behavior of
704ba4151e, but that was basically
a workaround for the fragility of `$NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS`.

runtime/doc/news.txt

@@ -53,12 +53,6 @@ EDITOR
   documented and skips help buffers if run from a non-help buffer, otherwise
   it moves to another help buffer.
 
-VIM SCRIPT
-
-• |v:msgpack_types| has the type "binary" removed. |msgpackparse()| no longer
-  treats BIN, STR and FIXSTR as separate types. Any of these is returned as a
-  string if possible, or a |blob| if the value contained embedded NUL:s.
-
 EVENTS
 
 • TODO
@@ -98,6 +92,12 @@ TUI
 
 • TODO
 
+VIMSCRIPT
+
+• |v:msgpack_types| has the type "binary" removed. |msgpackparse()| no longer
+  treats BIN, STR and FIXSTR as separate types. Any of these is returned as a
+  string if possible, or a |blob| if the value contained embedded NUL:s.
+
 ==============================================================================
 NEW FEATURES                                                    *news-features*
 
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ PLUGINS
 
 STARTUP
 
-• TODO
+• Nvim will fail if the |--listen| or |$NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS| address is
+  invalid, instead of silently skipping an invalid address.
 
 TERMINAL
 

src/nvim/api/ui.c

@@ -93,15 +93,15 @@ void remote_ui_free_all_mem(void)
 }
 #endif
 
-/// Wait until ui has connected on stdio channel if only_stdio
+/// Wait until UI has connected.
-/// is true, otherwise any channel.
+///
+/// @param only_stdio UI is expected to connect on stdio.
 void remote_ui_wait_for_attach(bool only_stdio)
 {
   if (only_stdio) {
     Channel *channel = find_channel(CHAN_STDIO);
     if (!channel) {
-      // this function should only be called in --embed mode, stdio channel
+      // `only_stdio` implies --embed mode, thus stdio channel can be assumed.
-      // can be assumed.
       abort();
     }
 

src/nvim/main.c

@@ -332,12 +332,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 #endif
   bool use_builtin_ui = (has_term && !headless_mode && !embedded_mode && !silent_mode);
 
-  // don't bind the server yet, if we are using builtin ui.
-  // This will be done when nvim server has been forked from the ui process
-  if (!use_builtin_ui) {
-    server_init(params.listen_addr);
-  }
-
   if (params.remote) {
     remote_request(&params, params.remote, params.server_addr, argc, argv,
                    use_builtin_ui);
@@ -355,11 +349,19 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     ui_client_channel_id = rv;
   }
 
+  // NORETURN: Start builtin UI client.
   if (ui_client_channel_id) {
     time_finish();
     ui_client_run(remote_ui);  // NORETURN
   }
   assert(!ui_client_channel_id && !use_builtin_ui);
+  // Nvim server...
+
+  int listen_rv = server_init(params.listen_addr);
+  if (listen_rv != 0) {
+    mainerr("Failed to --listen", listen_rv < 0
+            ? os_strerror(listen_rv) : (listen_rv == 1 ? "empty address" : NULL));
+  }
 
   TIME_MSG("expanding arguments");
 

src/nvim/msgpack_rpc/server.c

@@ -28,27 +28,32 @@ static garray_T watchers = GA_EMPTY_INIT_VALUE;
 #endif
 
 /// Initializes the module
-bool server_init(const char *listen_addr)
+///
+/// @returns 0: success, 1: validation error, 2: already listening, -errno: failed to bind/listen.
+int server_init(const char *listen_addr)
 {
+  bool must_free = false;
   ga_init(&watchers, sizeof(SocketWatcher *), 1);
 
   // $NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS (deprecated)
-  if (!listen_addr && os_env_exists(ENV_LISTEN)) {
+  if ((!listen_addr || listen_addr[0] == '\0') && os_env_exists(ENV_LISTEN)) {
     listen_addr = os_getenv(ENV_LISTEN);
   }
 
-  int rv = listen_addr ? server_start(listen_addr) : 1;
+  if (!listen_addr || listen_addr[0] == '\0') {
-  if (0 != rv) {
     listen_addr = server_address_new(NULL);
-    if (!listen_addr) {
+    must_free = true;
-      return false;
-    }
-    rv = server_start(listen_addr);
-    xfree((char *)listen_addr);
   }
 
+  if (!listen_addr) {
+    abort();  // Cannot happen.
+  }
+
+  int rv = server_start(listen_addr);
+
   if (os_env_exists(ENV_LISTEN)) {
-    // Unset $NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS, it's a liability hereafter.
+    // Unset $NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS, it's a liability hereafter. It is "input only", it must not be
+    // leaked to child jobs or :terminal.
     os_unsetenv(ENV_LISTEN);
   }
 
@@ -57,7 +62,11 @@ bool server_init(const char *listen_addr)
     ELOG("test log message");
   }
 
-  return rv == 0;
+  if (must_free) {
+    xfree((char *)listen_addr);
+  }
+
+  return rv;
 }
 
 /// Teardown a single server

test/functional/options/defaults_spec.lua

@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ describe('startup defaults', function()
       } })
       eq('Xtest-logpath', eval('$NVIM_LOG_FILE'))
     end)
+
     it('defaults to stdpath("log")/log if empty', function()
       eq(true, mkdir(xdgdir) and mkdir(xdgstatedir))
       clear({
@@ -257,6 +258,7 @@ describe('startup defaults', function()
       })
       eq(xdgstatedir .. '/log', string.gsub(eval('$NVIM_LOG_FILE'), '\\', '/'))
     end)
+
     it('defaults to stdpath("log")/log if invalid', function()
       eq(true, mkdir(xdgdir) and mkdir(xdgstatedir))
       clear({
@@ -266,6 +268,8 @@ describe('startup defaults', function()
         },
       })
       eq(xdgstatedir .. '/log', string.gsub(eval('$NVIM_LOG_FILE'), '\\', '/'))
+      -- Avoid "failed to open $NVIM_LOG_FILE" noise in test output.
+      expect_exit(command, 'qall!')
     end)
   end)
 end)
@@ -339,9 +343,11 @@ describe('XDG defaults', function()
   local state_dir = is_os('win') and 'nvim-data' or 'nvim'
   local root_path = is_os('win') and 'C:' or ''
 
-  describe('with too long XDG variables', function()
+  describe('with too long XDG vars', function()
     before_each(function()
       clear({
+        -- Ensure valid --listen address despite broken XDG vars (else Nvim won't start).
+        args = { '--listen', is_os('win') and '' or t.tmpname(false) },
         args_rm = { 'runtimepath' },
         env = {
           NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog,
@@ -361,6 +367,9 @@ describe('XDG defaults', function()
 
     it('are correctly set', function()
       if not is_os('win') then
+        -- Broken XDG vars cause serverstart() to fail (except on Windows, where servernames are not
+        -- informed by $XDG_STATE_HOME).
+        t.matches('Failed to start server: no such file or directory', t.pcall_err(fn.serverstart))
         assert_log('Failed to start server: no such file or directory: /X/X/X', testlog, 10)
       end
 
@@ -522,9 +531,11 @@ describe('XDG defaults', function()
     end)
   end)
 
-  describe('with XDG variables that can be expanded', function()
+  describe('with expandable XDG vars', function()
     before_each(function()
       clear({
+        -- Ensure valid --listen address despite broken XDG vars (else Nvim won't start).
+        args = { '--listen', is_os('win') and '' or t.tmpname(false) },
         args_rm = { 'runtimepath' },
         env = {
           NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog,
@@ -544,6 +555,9 @@ describe('XDG defaults', function()
 
     it('are not expanded', function()
       if not is_os('win') then
+        -- Broken XDG vars cause serverstart() to fail (except on Windows, where servernames are not
+        -- informed by $XDG_STATE_HOME).
+        t.matches('Failed to start server: no such file or directory', t.pcall_err(fn.serverstart))
         assert_log(
           'Failed to start server: no such file or directory: %$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR%/',
           testlog,
@@ -895,7 +909,7 @@ describe('stdpath()', function()
     assert_alive() -- Check for crash. #8393
   end)
 
-  it('reacts to $NVIM_APPNAME', function()
+  it('supports $NVIM_APPNAME', function()
     local appname = 'NVIM_APPNAME_TEST' .. ('_'):rep(106)
     clear({ env = { NVIM_APPNAME = appname, NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog } })
     eq(appname, fn.fnamemodify(fn.stdpath('config'), ':t'))
@@ -916,7 +930,7 @@ describe('stdpath()', function()
     local function test_appname(testAppname, expected_exitcode)
       local lua_code = string.format(
         [[
-        local child = vim.fn.jobstart({ vim.v.progpath, '--clean', '--headless', '+qall!' }, { env = { NVIM_APPNAME = %q } })
+        local child = vim.fn.jobstart({ vim.v.progpath, '--clean', '--headless', '--listen', 'x', '+qall!' }, { env = { NVIM_APPNAME = %q } })
         return vim.fn.jobwait({ child }, %d)[1]
       ]],
         alter_slashes(testAppname),
@@ -935,9 +949,6 @@ describe('stdpath()', function()
     -- Valid appnames:
     test_appname('a/b', 0)
     test_appname('a/b\\c', 0)
-    if not is_os('win') then
-      assert_log('Failed to start server: no such file or directory:', testlog)
-    end
   end)
 
   describe('returns a String', function()

test/functional/vimscript/server_spec.lua

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ local n = require('test.functional.testnvim')()
 local assert_log = t.assert_log
 local eq, neq, eval = t.eq, t.neq, n.eval
 local clear, fn, api = n.clear, n.fn, n.api
-local ok = t.ok
 local matches = t.matches
 local pcall_err = t.pcall_err
 local check_close = n.check_close
@@ -49,15 +48,6 @@ describe('server', function()
     eq('', eval('$NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS'))
   end)
 
-  it('sets new v:servername if $NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS is invalid', function()
-    clear({ env = { NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS = '.' } })
-    -- Cleared on startup.
-    eq('', eval('$NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS'))
-    local servers = fn.serverlist()
-    eq(1, #servers)
-    ok(string.len(servers[1]) > 4) -- "~/.local/state/nvim…/…" or "\\.\pipe\…"
-  end)
-
   it('sets v:servername at startup or if all servers were stopped', function()
     clear()
     local initial_server = api.nvim_get_vvar('servername')
@@ -89,20 +79,26 @@ describe('server', function()
   end)
 
   it('serverstop() returns false for invalid input', function()
-    clear { env = {
+    clear {
-      NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog,
+      args_rm = { '--listen' },
-      NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS = '.',
+      env = {
-    } }
+        NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog,
+        NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS = '',
+      },
+    }
     eq(0, eval("serverstop('')"))
     eq(0, eval("serverstop('bogus-socket-name')"))
     assert_log('Not listening on bogus%-socket%-name', testlog, 10)
   end)
 
   it('parses endpoints', function()
-    clear { env = {
+    clear {
-      NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog,
+      args_rm = { '--listen' },
-      NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS = '.',
+      env = {
-    } }
+        NVIM_LOG_FILE = testlog,
+        NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS = '',
+      },
+    }
     clear_serverlist()
     eq({}, fn.serverlist())
 
@@ -178,18 +174,41 @@ end)
 describe('startup --listen', function()
   it('validates', function()
     clear()
-    local cmd = { unpack(n.nvim_argv) }
-    table.insert(cmd, '--listen')
-    matches('nvim.*: Argument missing after: "%-%-listen"', fn.system(cmd))
 
-    cmd = { unpack(n.nvim_argv) }
+    -- Tests args with and without "--headless".
-    table.insert(cmd, '--listen2')
+    local function _test(args, expected)
-    matches('nvim.*: Garbage after option argument: "%-%-listen2"', fn.system(cmd))
+      -- XXX: clear v:shell_error, sigh...
+      fn.system({ n.nvim_prog, '-es', '+qall!' })
+      assert(0 == eval('v:shell_error'))
+      local cmd = vim.list_extend({ unpack(n.nvim_argv) }, vim.list_extend({ '--headless' }, args))
+      local output = fn.system(cmd)
+      assert(0 ~= eval('v:shell_error'))
+      -- TODO(justinmk): output not properly captured on Windows?
+      if is_os('win') then
+        return
+      end
+      matches(expected, output)
+      cmd = vim.list_extend({ unpack(n.nvim_argv) }, args)
+      matches(expected, fn.system(cmd))
+    end
+
+    _test({ '--listen' }, 'nvim.*: Argument missing after: "%-%-listen"')
+    _test({ '--listen2' }, 'nvim.*: Garbage after option argument: "%-%-listen2"')
+    _test({ '--listen', n.eval('v:servername') }, 'nvim.*: Failed to %-%-listen: ".* already .*"')
+    _test({ '--listen', '/' }, 'nvim.*: Failed to %-%-listen: ".*"')
+    _test(
+      { '--listen', 'https://example.com' },
+      ('nvim.*: Failed to %%-%%-listen: "%s"'):format(
+        (is_os('mac') or is_os('win')) and 'unknown node or service'
+          or 'service not available for socket type'
+      )
+    )
   end)
 
   it('sets v:servername, overrides $NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS', function()
     local addr = (is_os('win') and [[\\.\pipe\Xtest-listen-pipe]] or './Xtest-listen-pipe')
     clear({ env = { NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS = './Xtest-env-pipe' }, args = { '--listen', addr } })
+    eq('', eval('$NVIM_LISTEN_ADDRESS')) -- Cleared on startup.
     eq(addr, api.nvim_get_vvar('servername'))
 
     -- Address without slashes is a "name" which is appended to a generated path. #8519