Incompatibility between Cakeday,Data-Explorer and Animated Avatar plugins

AI-generated summary

A compatibility issue between the Cakeday, Data Explorer, and Animated Avatar plugins in Discourse has been reported. When trying to access the /cakeday/anniversaries/today page, a 500 error occurs due to a missing admin attribute in the user object.

piffy initially reported the issue and provided detailed logs and replication steps. JammyDodger was able to replicate the error on their test site.

The issue seems to be caused by the Animated Avatar plugin expecting certain properties (e.g., staff?) in the user object, which are not present when serializing users in the Cakeday plugin.

david mentioned that this issue also affects the Data Explorer plugin.

However, featheredtoast has since fixed the compatibility issue with a pull request, and piffy has confirmed that the fix resolves the issue for them.

I have both of these plugins installed.
The URL to view anniversaries (/cakeday/anniversaries/today) gives this error:

Complete logs:
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute.rb:226:in `value'
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute_set/builder.rb:55:in `block in fetch_value'
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute_set/builder.rb:46:in `fetch'
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute_set/builder.rb:46:in `fetch_value'
activerecord (7.0.3.1) lib/active_record/attribute_methods/read.rb:38:in `_read_attribute'
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute_methods.rb:277:in `admin'
app/models/concerns/roleable.rb:14:in `staff?'
plugins/discourse-animated-avatars/plugin.rb:90:in `block (2 levels) in activate!'
lib/plugin/instance.rb:285:in `public_send'
lib/plugin/instance.rb:285:in `block (2 levels) in add_to_class'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/core_ext/object/try.rb:15:in `public_send'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/core_ext/object/try.rb:15:in `try'
plugins/discourse-animated-avatars/plugin.rb:94:in `block (2 levels) in activate!'
(eval):7:in `_fast_attributes'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:468:in `rescue in attributes'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:455:in `attributes'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:480:in `_serializable_hash'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:359:in `serializable_hash'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:89:in `block in _serializable_array'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:79:in `map'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:79:in `_serializable_array'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:73:in `serializable_array'
active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:53:in `as_json'
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:519:in `serialize_data'
plugins/discourse-cakeday/app/controllers/discourse_cakeday/anniversaries_controller.rb:53:in `index'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal/basic_implicit_render.rb:6:in `send_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:215:in `process_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal/rendering.rb:53:in `process_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:234:in `block in process_action'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:118:in `block in run_callbacks'
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:413:in `block in with_resolved_locale'
i18n (1.12.0) lib/i18n.rb:322:in `with_locale'
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:413:in `with_resolved_locale'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:127:in `block in run_callbacks'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:138:in `run_callbacks'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:233:in `process_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal/rescue.rb:22:in `process_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:67:in `block in process_action'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/notifications.rb:206:in `block in instrument'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:24:in `instrument'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/notifications.rb:206:in `instrument'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:66:in `process_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal/params_wrapper.rb:259:in `process_action'
activerecord (7.0.3.1) lib/active_record/railties/controller_runtime.rb:27:in `process_action'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:151:in `process'
actionview (7.0.3.1) lib/action_view/rendering.rb:39:in `process'
rack-mini-profiler (3.0.0) lib/mini_profiler/profiling_methods.rb:111:in `block in profile_method'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal.rb:188:in `dispatch'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_controller/metal.rb:251:in `dispatch'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:49:in `dispatch'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:32:in `serve'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:852:in `call'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/engine.rb:530:in `call'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/railtie.rb:226:in `public_send'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/railtie.rb:226:in `method_missing'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb:19:in `block in <class:Constraints>'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb:48:in `serve'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:852:in `call'
lib/middleware/omniauth_bypass_middleware.rb:71:in `call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/tempfile_reaper.rb:15:in `call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/conditional_get.rb:27:in `call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/head.rb:12:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/http/permissions_policy.rb:38:in `call'
lib/content_security_policy/middleware.rb:12:in `call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:266:in `context'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:260:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/cookies.rb:697:in `call'
activerecord (7.0.3.1) lib/active_record/migration.rb:603:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:27:in `block in call'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:99:in `run_callbacks'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:26:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/executor.rb:14:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/actionable_exceptions.rb:17:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:28:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:26:in `call'
logster (2.11.3) lib/logster/middleware/reporter.rb:43:in `call'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:40:in `call_app'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:27:in `call'
config/initializers/100-quiet_logger.rb:23:in `call'
config/initializers/100-silence_logger.rb:31:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:93:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:26:in `call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/method_override.rb:24:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/executor.rb:14:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/static.rb:23:in `call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/sendfile.rb:110:in `call'
actionpack (7.0.3.1) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/host_authorization.rb:137:in `call'
lib/middleware/missing_avatars.rb:23:in `call'
lib/middleware/turbo_dev.rb:34:in `call'
rack-mini-profiler (3.0.0) lib/mini_profiler/profiler.rb:393:in `call'
message_bus (4.3.0) lib/message_bus/rack/middleware.rb:60:in `call'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/engine.rb:530:in `call'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/railtie.rb:226:in `public_send'
railties (7.0.3.1) lib/rails/railtie.rb:226:in `method_missing'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:74:in `block in call'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:58:in `each'
rack (2.2.4) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:58:in `call'
unicorn (6.1.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:634:in `process_client'
unicorn (6.1.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:739:in `worker_loop'
unicorn (6.1.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:547:in `spawn_missing_workers'
unicorn (6.1.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:143:in `start'
unicorn (6.1.0) bin/unicorn:128:in `<top (required)>'
bin/unicorn:96:in `load'
bin/unicorn:96:in `block in <main>'
bin/unicorn:95:in `fork'
bin/unicorn:95:in `<main>'

I tried to dig into the exact issue here, to me the most relevant lines are here:

app/models/concerns/roleable.rb:14:in `staff?'
plugins/discourse-animated-avatars/plugin.rb:90:in `block (2 levels) in activate!'
...
plugins/discourse-animated-avatars/plugin.rb:94:in `block (2 levels) in activate!'
...
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:519:in `serialize_data'
plugins/discourse-cakeday/app/controllers/discourse_cakeday/anniversaries_controller.rb:53:in `index'

The issue appears to be that when the “staff?” function is called, that function is not present for the user object being referred to here and therefore an error is thrown in the Animated Avatar plugin:

This traces back to this Cakeday plugin, when the list of users is being serialized:

Now, I’m not an expert in how the serialization is working here, but if I had to give a vague diagnosis, it’s that it looks like the Animated Avatar plugin is being given a “user” object that lacks some of the expected properties of a user object, namely the staff? function (as well as the trust_level which I found out). I think it may be a bit tricky to replicate this error as I think it requires there to be users showing up on the /cakeday/anniversaries/today page, which was non-trivial to get to happen on my development instance.

On my live forum, I also confirmed this issue persists with safe mode (official plugins only)

A similar issue is reported here: Discourse Cakeday - #200

4 Likes

Hi @piffy :slight_smile:

FWIW I have installed Animated Avatars on my test site (along with Cakeday :cake:), and I think I can replicate this error. :+1:

  • Install and enable both plugins
  • Use nifty code in rails console [1] to set test user’s joined date as a year ago today
  • Access /cakeday/anniversaries/today
  • Error 500
Message (4 copies reported)

ActiveModel::MissingAttributeError (missing attribute: admin)
app/models/concerns/roleable.rb:14:in `staff?'
lib/plugin/instance.rb:297:in `public_send'
lib/plugin/instance.rb:297:in `block (2 levels) in add_to_class'
(eval):8:in `_fast_attributes'
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:521:in `serialize_data'
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:414:in `block in with_resolved_locale'
app/controllers/application_controller.rb:414:in `with_resolved_locale'
lib/middleware/omniauth_bypass_middleware.rb:74:in `call'
lib/content_security_policy/middleware.rb:12:in `call'
lib/middleware/anonymous_cache.rb:366:in `call'
config/initializers/100-quiet_logger.rb:20:in `call'
config/initializers/100-silence_logger.rb:29:in `call'
lib/middleware/enforce_hostname.rb:24:in `call'
lib/middleware/request_tracker.rb:228:in `call'

Backtrace

activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute.rb:226:in `value'
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute_set/builder.rb:43:in `fetch_value'
activerecord (7.0.3.1) lib/active_record/attribute_methods/read.rb:38:in `_read_attribute'
activemodel (7.0.3.1) lib/active_model/attribute_methods.rb:277:in `admin'
app/models/concerns/roleable.rb:14:in `staff?'
plugins/discourse-animated-avatars/plugin.rb:90:in `block (2 levels) in activate!'
lib/plugin/instance.rb:297:in `public_send'
lib/plugin/instance.rb:297:in `block (2 levels) in add_to_class'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/core_ext/object/try.rb:15:in `public_send'
activesupport (7.0.3.1) lib/active_support/core_ext/object/try.rb:15:in `try'

I thought I could try an easier way and do the same on birthdays to sidestep mucking around in the rails console, but /cakeday/birthdays/today seemed to work fine.


  1. user = User.where(username: ‘Test_Three’)
    user.update(created_at: “2022-01-11 00:00:00.00000”) ↩︎

2 Likes

This also seems to be affecting data-explorer per

3 Likes

Hey @piffy thanks so much for the detailed report - I’ve updated the compatibility between the plugins with this PR

https://github.com/discourse/discourse-animated-avatars/pull/12

I’m able to get to the cakeday directory page through my tests, but let me know if there are any outstanding issues here-

6 Likes

It fixes it for me! Thanks a bunch!!

3 Likes