Fix wkhtmltopdf build failure with graceful degradation

[Copilot]

The wkhtmltopdf package requires libssl1.1, which is unavailable in Ubuntu Noble 24.04+ (uses libssl3), causing Docker builds to fail with dependency errors.

Changes

• .docker/workspace/Dockerfile: Wrap wkhtmltopdf installation in error handler to allow build continuation on failure

  && (wget "..." \
  && dpkg -i "..." \
  && apt -f install) || echo "wkhtmltopdf installation failed, continuing..."

• CI workflows: Disable wkhtmltopdf installation in docker-build-test.yml and test-containers.yml to prevent CI failures

  sed -i "s/WORKSPACE_INSTALL_WKHTMLTOPDF=true/WORKSPACE_INSTALL_WKHTMLTOPDF=false/" .env.docker

Users can still enable wkhtmltopdf manually, but builds no longer fail when dependencies are unavailable.

Original prompt

Dockerfile:610

609 |
610 | >>> RUN if [ ${INSTALL_WKHTMLTOPDF} = true ]; then
611 | >>> ARCH=$(arch | sed s/aarch64/arm64/ | sed s/x86_64/amd64/)
612 | >>> && apt-get install -y
613 | >>> libxrender1
614 | >>> libfontconfig1
615 | >>> libx11-dev
616 | >>> libjpeg62
617 | >>> libxtst6
618 | >>> fontconfig
619 | >>> libjpeg-turbo8-dev
620 | >>> xfonts-base
621 | >>> xfonts-75dpi
622 | >>> wget
623 | >>> && wget "https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/${WKHTMLTOPDF_VERSION}/wkhtmltox_${WKHTMLTOPDF_VERSION}.focal_${ARCH}.deb"
624 | >>> && dpkg -i "wkhtmltox_${WKHTMLTOPDF_VERSION}.focal_${ARCH}.deb"
625 | >>> && apt -f install
626 | >>> ;fi
627 |

target workspace: failed to solve: process "/bin/sh -c if [ ${INSTALL_WKHTMLTOPDF} = true ]; then ARCH=$(arch | sed s/aarch64/arm64/ | sed s/x86_64/amd64/) && apt-get install -y libxrender1 libfontconfig1 libx11-dev libjpeg62 libxtst6 fontconfig libjpeg-turbo8-dev xfonts-base xfonts-75dpi wget && wget "https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/${WKHTMLTOPDF_VERSION}/wkhtmltox_${WKHTMLTOPDF_VERSION}.focal_${ARCH}.deb\" && dpkg -i "wkhtmltox_${WKHTMLTOPDF_VERSION}.focal_${ARCH}.deb" && apt -f install ;fi" did not complete successfully: exit code: 1

[workspace 48/59] RUN if [ true = true ]; then ARCH=$(arch | sed s/aarch64/arm64/ | sed s/x86_64/amd64/) && apt-get install -y libxrender1 libfontconfig1 libx11-dev libjpeg62 libxtst6 fontconfig libjpeg-turbo8-dev xfonts-base xfonts-75dpi wget && wget "https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/0.12.6-1/wkhtmltox_0.12.6-1.focal_${ARCH}.deb" && dpkg -i "wkhtmltox_0.12.6-1.focal_${ARCH}.deb" && apt -f install ;fi:
6.055 Unpacking wkhtmltox (1:0.12.6-1.focal) ...
7.266 dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of wkhtmltox:
7.266 wkhtmltox depends on libssl1.1; however:
7.266 Package libssl1.1 is not installed.
7.266
7.266 dpkg: error processing package wkhtmltox (--install):
7.266 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
7.266 Processing triggers for man-db (2.12.0-4build2) ...
7.298 Errors were encountered while processing:
7.298 wkhtmltox

---

Error: Process completed with exit code 1. same problem as before... do the try/catch and the sed to eliminate wkhtmltopdf

---

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[nielsdrost7]

@copilot why can't wkhtmltopdf require libssl3 (?)
Is wkhtmltopdf required to run snappy PDF in Laravel

[Copilot]

@copilot why can't wkhtmltopdf require libssl3 (?)
Is wkhtmltopdf required to run snappy PDF in Laravel

Why wkhtmltopdf can't use libssl3:
wkhtmltopdf 0.12.6-1 was built in 2020 against libssl1.1 (Ubuntu 20.04 Focal). The project has been largely inactive since then with no official builds for libssl3. New packages would need to be compiled from source against libssl3.

Is wkhtmltopdf required for Laravel Snappy:
Yes, Laravel Snappy is a wrapper around wkhtmltopdf for PDF generation. However, this Docker setup is general-purpose and wkhtmltopdf is optional (disabled by default). Applications that don't use Snappy/wkhtmltopdf can run without it.

The fix allows builds to continue when wkhtmltopdf installation fails, and disables it in CI where it's not needed for testing the Docker images themselves.

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• https://api.github.com/repos/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases
  • Triggering command: /usr/bin/curl curl -sL REDACTED (http block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

[nielsdrost7]

@copilot a fun and tough question:
I'm building InvoicePlane v2 with a report builder that Constructs a file to create a PDF from for Reports and Invoices.
I need and want the best solution.
My belief was that it would have been Snappy, although no wonder that Snappy is a wrapper around wkhtmltopdf.

In InvoicePlane v1 we're using mpdf.
I don't mind supplying both, I just don't want any more failing Docker builds

[nielsdrost7]

@copilot a fun and tough question:
I'm building InvoicePlane v2 with a report builder that Constructs a file to create a PDF from for Reports and Invoices.
I need and want the best solution.
My belief was that it would have been Snappy, although no wonder that Snappy is a wrapper around wkhtmltopdf.

In InvoicePlane v1 we're using mpdf.
I don't mind supplying both, I just don't want any more failing Docker builds

[Copilot]

@copilot a fun and tough question:
I'm building InvoicePlane v2 with a report builder that Constructs a file to create a PDF from for Reports and Invoices.
I need and want the best solution.
...

For PDF generation in InvoicePlane v2, you have solid options:

mpdf (pure PHP):

• No system dependencies, always works
• Good for most invoice/report needs
• Current InvoicePlane v1 solution

Snappy/wkhtmltopdf:

• Better rendering for complex HTML/CSS
• System dependency (the Docker build issue)
• My fix makes it optional—builds succeed even if wkhtmltopdf fails

Recommendation: Start with mpdf (reliable, no build failures). Add wkhtmltopdf as an optional enhancement later if needed. The Docker setup now supports both—wkhtmltopdf won't break builds anymore, and mpdf requires no additional setup.

Your builds are safe either way with the current fix.