`RubyInstallType()` incorrectly returns `RbenvRuby` when Ruby is provisioned via Bitrise `tools:`

[markst]

Problem

When a Ruby version is declared using Bitrise's tools: config in bitrise.yml, RubyInstallType() still returns RbenvRuby instead of ASDFRuby (or SystemRuby). This causes downstream steps (e.g. cocoapods-install) to attempt installing the Ruby version via rbenv, which fails because rbenv doesn't have that version — only asdf/mise does.

Root cause

Bitrise stacks have both rbenv and asdf on the PATH. RubyInstallType() appears to detect the version manager by inspecting the output of which ruby, which still resolves to an rbenv shim even when the actual Ruby was provisioned by asdf. Additionally, a .ruby-version file in the repo is picked up by rbenv, reinforcing the misdetection.

Steps to reproduce

1. Use tools: ruby: 3.3.10 in bitrise.yml
2. Have a .ruby-version file in the repo pointing to 3.3.10
3. Call RubyInstallType() — returns RbenvRuby
4. IsSpecifiedRbenvRubyInstalled() fails because rbenv doesn't have 3.3.10

Expected behaviour

RubyInstallType() should resolve the shim to its real binary path before classifying the version manager, or check which manager actually has the version available. Alternatively, asdf detection should be checked before rbenv.

Related

bitrise-steplib/steps-cocoapods-install#112

[markst]

Workaround is to remove the .ruby-version as a step prior to cocoapods installation step:

rm .ruby-version

[Badlazzor]

Hi @markst — thanks for the detailed write-up and the workaround.

Your root-cause analysis matches what we'd expect: RubyInstallType() infers the version manager from the resolved which ruby shim, and on Bitrise stacks with both rbenv and asdf on PATH a leftover .ruby-version will keep resolving to the rbenv shim even when asdf actually provisioned the Ruby. So the detection result is technically correct for what's on PATH, but doesn't reflect what tools: configured.

Leaving open and surfacing on STEP-2426 for the steps team — the detection logic likely needs to factor in the Bitrise tools: declaration (or the BITRISE_TOOLS-style env hint) before falling back to the PATH-based heuristic.

Your rm .ruby-version workaround is captured here for anyone hitting this in the meantime.

[markst]

Thanks @Badlazzor, but even if adding an additional step: https://github.com/bitrise-steplib/bitrise-step-dependency-installer

Which succeeds:

Installing tools from .ruby-version
Running command: /usr/local/bin/bitrise tools setup --config .ruby-version
Installation output: 
Tool setup
Plan:
• ruby 4.0.3 

Installing missing tools
• ruby 4.0.3...
ruby@4.0.3 not found in nixpkgs index, doing a source build. This may take some time...
✓ installed (took 1m18.986s)

✓ Tool setup complete (took 1m19.007s)

✓ Tools activated for subsequent steps in the workflow
! If you need tools in the current shell session, run eval "$(bitrise tools setup --format bash ...)" instead.

but then the 'Run CocoaPods install' fails with the following:

Config:
- command: update
- source_root_path: /Users/vagrant/git/ios
- podfile_path: <unset>
- verbose: false

Searching for Podfile
Found Podfile: /Users/vagrant/git/ios/Podfile

Determining required cocoapods version
Searching for Podfile.lock
Found Podfile.lock: /Users/vagrant/git/ios/Podfile.lock
Required CocoaPods version (from Podfile.lock): 1.16.2
Searching for gem lockfile with cocoapods gem
No gem lockfile with cocoapods gem found at: 
Using system installed CocoaPods version
failed to check installed ruby version, rbenv: version `4.0.3' is not installed (set by /Users/vagrant/git/.ruby-version) error: exit status 1

Checking selected Ruby version using rbenv
Ruby 4.0.3 is not installed

$ rbenv "install" "4.0.3"
ruby-build: definition not found: 4.0.3

See all available versions with `rbenv install --list-all'.

If the version you need is missing, try upgrading ruby-build:

  brew upgrade ruby-build
Failed to install Ruby version 4.0.3, error: exit status 2
failed to check installed ruby version, rbenv: version `4.0.3' is not installed (set by /Users/vagrant/git/.ruby-version) error: exit status 1

Installing cocoapods
Checking cocoapods 1.16.2 gem
Installing
$ gem "install" "cocoapods" "--no-document" "-v" "1.16.2"
$ rbenv "rehash"

cocoapods version:
$ pod "_1.16.2_" "--version"
No preset version installed for command pod
Please install a version by running one of the following:

asdf install ruby 4.0.3

or add one of the following versions in your config file at /Users/vagrant/git/.tool-versions
ruby 3
ruby 3.2
ruby 3.2.9
ruby 3.3
ruby 3.3.9
ruby 3.4
ruby 3.4.5
command failed, error: exit status 126