boost::wrapexcept<boost::io::too_few_args> when path-info a nixosSystem

[Aleksanaa]

Describe the bug

When I updated my system, I found that the libpeas2 build failed, preventing me from continuing update. So I wanted to find out which package depends on libpeas2:

nix why-depends .#nixosConfigurations.Aleksana-Laptop /nix/store/si5kqczvmy8fns53raqrzpzgyd86i8vz-libpeas-2.0.1.drv

This may not be correct though, but nix failed with a surprising error:

warning: Git tree '/etc/nixos' is dirty
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'boost::wrapexcept<boost::io::too_few_args>'
  what():  boost::too_few_args: format-string referred to more arguments than were passed
Aborted (core dumped)

Just now I realized nix path-info .#nixosConfigurations.Aleksana-Laptop will also fail with the same error.

Nix 2.18 behaves differently, though...

=> nix run pkgs#nixVersions.nix_2_18 -- path-info .#nixosConfigurations.Aleksana-Laptop
warning: Git tree '/etc/nixos' is dirty
error: 'nixosConfigurations.Aleksana-Laptop.type' is not a string but

(But what?)

Steps To Reproduce

1. have a flake with a nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem definition in nixosConfigurations
2. run nix path-info .#nixosConfigurations.<system-name>
3. see the error occurs

Expected behavior

Either print the store path or throw an intutive error.

nix-env --version output

nix-env (Nix) 2.21.0

Priorities

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[YorikSar]

I ran into the same issue. It has been fixed with #10293 that released in 2.21.1. Try either upgrading or downgrading your Nix.

[Aleksanaa]

Can confirm it works.

=> nix path-info .#nixosConfigurations.Aleksana-Laptop
warning: Git tree '/etc/nixos' is dirty
error: 'nixosConfigurations.Aleksana-Laptop.type' is not a string but a set

I should upgrade my system. Thanks!