[FR]: Better support for the new repository cache

[antspy]

What is the current behavior?

Hi,

I have updated to bazel 8.4. specifically for the better repository cache, which would allow to share extracted pip libraries instead of having to extract them all again every time, see bazelbuild/bazel#12227 (comment)

Describe the feature

IIUC, this needs to be supported by the rules implementation. Support for this (according to the bug) has been added in rules_python in bazel-contrib/rules_python#2730, and it would be great if it could be added to aspect_rules_py too! :)

[arrdem]

At present aspect_rules_py has zero package management surface area and this ask is purely a rules_python issue. aspect_rules_py sets a very low lower bound on the supported rules_python version, you should request a newer one in your MODULE.bazel as you may see fit.

The new uv machinery (#650) will provide a pip_install alternative which does participate in the external repos cache.

[antspy]

@arrdem Hey,

Thank you for your answer!

sets a very low lower bound on the supported rules_python version, you should request a newer one in your MODULE.bazel as you may see fit.

Do you mean just adding bazel_dep(name = "rules_python", version = "1.6.3") to the MODULE.bazel? I have done that, using the latest rules_python version, and I see no difference in the runtime of repeated calls to e.g. bazel run python_env.venv - there's still a lot of extracting files.

I am not sure what exactly needs to change to take advantage of the new bazel caching. I guess this is not the right place - if you have an idea, that would be much appreciated, otherwise I will look elsewhere. Thank you!