fix(perf): ensure perf is always found on the machine

Workaround for https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-hwe-6.14/+bug/2117159/

Author: adriencaccia

src/run/runner/wall_time/perf/mod.rs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::run::runner::helpers::run_with_sudo::run_with_sudo;
 use crate::run::runner::valgrind::helpers::ignored_objects_path::get_objects_path_to_ignore;
 use crate::run::runner::valgrind::helpers::perf_maps::harvest_perf_maps_for_pids;
 use crate::run::runner::wall_time::perf::jit_dump::harvest_perf_jit_for_pids;
+use crate::run::runner::wall_time::perf::perf_executable::get_working_perf_executable;
 use crate::run::runner::wall_time::perf::unwind_data::UnwindDataExt;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use fifo::{PerfFifo, RunnerFifo};
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ mod setup;
 
 pub mod elf_helper;
 pub mod fifo;
+pub mod perf_executable;
 pub mod perf_map;
 pub mod unwind_data;
 
@@ -118,8 +120,11 @@ impl PerfRunner {
             ""
         };
 
+        let perf_executable =
+            get_working_perf_executable().context("Failed to find a working perf executable")?;
+
         let perf_args = [
-            "perf",
+            perf_executable.as_str(),
             "record",
             quiet_flag,
             "--timestamp",

src/run/runner/wall_time/perf/perf_executable.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+use crate::prelude::*;
+
+use std::process::Command;
+
+const FIND_PERF_CMD: &str =
+    "find /usr/lib -executable -path \"/usr/lib/linux-tools-*/perf\" | sort | tail -n1";
+
+/// Attempts to find the path to the `perf` executable that is installed and working.
+/// Returns None if `perf` is not installed or not functioning correctly.
+pub fn get_working_perf_executable() -> Option<String> {
+    let is_installed = Command::new("which")
+        .arg("perf")
+        .output()
+        .is_ok_and(|output| output.status.success());
+    if !is_installed {
+        debug!("perf is not installed");
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    debug!("perf is installed, checking if it is functioning correctly");
+    if Command::new("perf")
+        .arg("--version") // here we use --version to check if perf is working
+        .output()
+        .is_ok_and(|output| output.status.success())
+    {
+        return Some("perf".to_string());
+    } else {
+        // The following is a workaround for this outstanding Ubuntu issue: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-hwe-6.14/+bug/2117159/
+        debug!(
+            "perf command is not functioning correctly, trying to find alternative path using \"{FIND_PERF_CMD}\""
+        );
+        if let Ok(perf_path) = Command::new("sh").arg("-c").arg(FIND_PERF_CMD).output() {
+            if perf_path.status.success() {
+                let path = String::from_utf8_lossy(&perf_path.stdout)
+                    .trim()
+                    .to_string();
+                debug!("Found perf path on retry: {path}");
+                // Check if this perf is working by getting its version
+                if let Ok(version_output) = Command::new(&path).arg("--version").output() {
+                    if !version_output.status.success() {
+                        debug!(
+                            "Failed to get perf version from alternative path. stderr: {}",
+                            String::from_utf8_lossy(&version_output.stderr)
+                        );
+                        return None;
+                    }
+
+                    let version = String::from_utf8_lossy(&version_output.stdout)
+                        .trim()
+                        .to_string();
+                    debug!("Found perf version from alternative path: {version}");
+                    return Some(path);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    debug!("perf is installed but not functioning correctly");
+    None
+}

src/run/runner/wall_time/perf/setup.rs

@@ -1,33 +1,11 @@
 use crate::run::runner::helpers::apt;
+use crate::run::runner::wall_time::perf::perf_executable::get_working_perf_executable;
 use crate::{prelude::*, run::check_system::SystemInfo};
 
 use std::{path::Path, process::Command};
 
 fn is_perf_installed() -> bool {
-    let is_installed = Command::new("which")
-        .arg("perf")
-        .output()
-        .is_ok_and(|output| output.status.success());
-    if !is_installed {
-        debug!("perf is not installed");
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    if let Ok(version_output) = Command::new("perf").arg("--version").output() {
-        if !version_output.status.success() {
-            debug!(
-                "Failed to get perf version. stderr: {}",
-                String::from_utf8_lossy(&version_output.stderr)
-            );
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        let version = String::from_utf8_lossy(&version_output.stdout);
-        debug!("Found perf version: {}", version.trim());
-        true
-    } else {
-        false
-    }
+    get_working_perf_executable().is_some()
 }
 
 pub async fn install_perf(system_info: &SystemInfo, setup_cache_dir: Option<&Path>) -> Result<()> {