** Description changed:
+ [Impact]
+
+ When using tree with JSON (-J) or XML (-X) output on a nonexistent
+ directory, the generated output is malformed - missing required
+ opening tags/braces and fields. This makes the output invalid and
+ unusable for tools or scripts that parse it.
+
+ The fix ensures proper initialisation of markup output objects,
+ restoring valid JSON and XML generation.
+
+ [Test Plan]
+
+ 1. Start a fresh container and install `tree` and `jq`.
+
+ 2. Run the following command to check the JSON output:
+
+ ```sh
+ tree -J /nonexistentdir --noreport | jq
+ ```
+
+ If the bug is present, the following error message will be printed:
+
+ ```
+ jq: parse error: Expected value before ',' at line 2, column 1
+ ```
+
+ 3. Run this command to check the XML output:
+
+ ```sh
+ tree -X /nonexistentdir --noreport
+ ```
+
+ If the bug is present, the following error message will be printed:
+
+ ```
+ Error: XML syntax error on line 4: unexpected end element </unknown>
+ ```
+
+ 4. To verify that the command works when it's run against an existing
+ directory, run the following:
+
+ ```sh
+ mkdir -p /tmp/testdir/foo
+ [ $(tree -J /tmp/testdir/ | jq '.[0].contents[0].name') == '"foo"' ] || echo
"test failed"
+ [ "$(tree -X /tmp/testdir/ | xq -q 'tree > directory > directory' -a name)"
== 'foo' ] || echo "test failed"
+ ```
+
+ 5. Run `tree` without any option:
+ ```sh
+ tree /tmp/testdir/
+ ```
+
+ The successful execution of the command should produce the following
+ output:
+
+ ```
+ /tmp/testdir/
+ └── foo
+
+ 2 directories, 0 files
+ ```
+
+ [Where problems could occur]
+
+ The change affects how error cases are printed for invalid or
+ inaccessible directories. Potential regressions could include
+ incorrect JSON/XML or general command output format when running
+ `tree` against existing directories, which is addressed in the
+ testplan.
+
+ [Original report]
+
using tree, if the target folder does not exist then the JSON or XML
output options are broken.
XML output (using input flag -X) has no open tag for the name field and
a random close tag for 'unknown'.
JSON output (using input flag -J) creates an array, the JSON object in
the array has no open bracket and the entire 'type' key/value pair is
missing. This makes the JSON object in the array start with a comma.
-
This issue was discovered on Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS using tree version v2.1.1
Functionality is correct and as expected on another machine running Ubuntu
18.04.5 LTS using tree version v1.7.0
Unfortunately I do not have another machine with anything newer than
18.04.5 to test when the issue first appeared.
---------------------------------------------------------
1.) $ lsb_release -rd
No LSB modules are available.
Description: Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS
Release: 24.04
2.) $ lsb_release -rd
No LSB modules are available.
Description: Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS
Release: 24.04
showhq@showhq-2025:/usr/lib/cgi-bin/tech$ tree --version
tree v2.1.1 © 1996 - 2023 by Steve Baker, Thomas Moore, Francesc Rocher,
Florian Sesser, Kyosuke Tokoro
showhq@showhq-2025:/usr/lib/cgi-bin/tech$ apt-cache policy tree
tree:
- Installed: 2.1.1-2ubuntu3
- Candidate: 2.1.1-2ubuntu3
- Version table:
- *** 2.1.1-2ubuntu3 500
- 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
- 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
+ Installed: 2.1.1-2ubuntu3
+ Candidate: 2.1.1-2ubuntu3
+ Version table:
+ *** 2.1.1-2ubuntu3 500
+ 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
+ 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
3.) Expected: same as v1.7.0 - valid JSON with the -J flag and valid XML
with the -X flag.
4.) Reality: Invalid JSON and XML
** Changed in: tree (Ubuntu)
Assignee: Simon Chopin (schopin) => Nadzeya Hutsko (nadzeya)
** Also affects: tree (Ubuntu Questing)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Also affects: tree (Ubuntu Noble)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Also affects: tree (Ubuntu Jammy)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Also affects: tree (Ubuntu Plucky)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2113790
Title:
JSON and XML output broken if path invalid
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