envmodules · xdelaruelle · Jun 7, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026 · Jun 5, 2026 · Jun 5, 2026
diff --git a/INSTALL.rst b/INSTALL.rst
@@ -1721,6 +1721,8 @@ installation.
 | :mconfig:`implicit_requirement`   | ``1``                                        | :instopt:`--enable-implicit-requirement`,    |              |           |
 |                                   |                                              | :envvar:`MODULES_IMPLICIT_REQUIREMENT`       |              |           |
 +-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+--------------+-----------+
+| :mconfig:`info_extension`         | ``0``                                        | :envvar:`MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION`,            |              |           |
++-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+--------------+-----------+
 | :mconfig:`list_output`            | ``header:idx:variant:sym:tag:key``           | :instopt:`--with-list-output`,               |              |           |
 |                                   |                                              | :envvar:`MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT`,               |              |           |
 |                                   |                                              | :option:`--output`                           |              |           |

diff --git a/NEWS.rst b/NEWS.rst
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ Modules 5.7.0 (not yet released)
   :subcmd:`spider` sub-commands rather the last part of this via information.
   JSON output is updated to report the ``via`` key as an array rather as a
   string. (fix issue #586)
+* Introduce the :mconfig:`info_extension` configure option to consider that
+  module extensions have a pure informational purpose and no module alias is
+  associated to them. Extensions defined with :mfcmd:`provide` modulefile
+  command are not affected by this mechanism. When :mconfig:`info_extension`
+  is changed with :subcmd:`config` sub-command, it sets the
+  :envvar:`MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION` environment variable. (fix issue #585)
 
 
 .. _5.6 release notes:

diff --git a/doc/source/changes.rst b/doc/source/changes.rst
@@ -1076,6 +1076,7 @@ The following environment variables appeared on Modules 5.
 | 5.7        | :envvar:`MODULES_PATH_ENTRY_REORDER`,                           |
 |            | :envvar:`MODULES_PAGINATE`,                                     |
 |            | :envvar:`MODULES_NON_EXPORTABLE_TAGS`                           |
+|            | :envvar:`MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION`                                |
 +------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
 
 Modules Specific Tcl Commands
@@ -1289,7 +1290,7 @@ The following Modules configuration option has been introduced on Modules 5.
 |            | :mconfig:`spider_indepth`, :mconfig:`require_via`               |
 +------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
 | 5.7        | :mconfig:`path_entry_reorder`, :mconfig:`paginate`,             |
-|            | :mconfig:`non_exportable_tags`                                  |
+|            | :mconfig:`non_exportable_tags`, :mconfig:`info_extension`       |
 +------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
 
 :mconfig:`auto_handling`

diff --git a/doc/source/design/provide.rst b/doc/source/design/provide.rst
@@ -57,4 +57,17 @@ wins.
 *FUTURE*: keep all target definitions to be able to report all of them if
 asked.
 
+info_extension configuration option
+-----------------------------------
+
+The :mconfig:`info_extension` configuration option is added to control if
+defined extensions should be considered with an information purpose only.
+
+When this option is enabled, the module alias is not generated to avoid having
+conflict between 2 modules defining the same extension.
+
+This configuration option only affects extensions defined with the
+:mfcmd:`extensions` modulefile command. When enabled it behaves like the
+:mfcmd:`extensions` modulefile command implemented by Lmod.
+
 .. vim:set tabstop=2 shiftwidth=2 expandtab autoindent:
diff --git a/doc/source/module.rst b/doc/source/module.rst
@@ -1235,6 +1235,19 @@ Module Sub-Commands
 
      .. versionadded:: 4.7
 
+ .. mconfig:: info_extension
+
+  Consider module :mfcmd:`extensions` having a pure informational purpose: no
+  module alias is associated to them.
+
+  Default is ``0``. The :envvar:`MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION` environment variable
+  is defined by :subcmd:`config` sub-command when changing this configuration
+  option from its default value.
+
+  .. only:: html or latex
+
+     .. versionadded:: 5.7
+
  .. mconfig:: list_output
 
   Content to report in addition to module names on :subcmd:`list` sub-command
@@ -5122,6 +5135,20 @@ ENVIRONMENT
 
     .. versionadded:: 4.7
 
+.. envvar:: MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION
+
+ Consider (if set to ``1``) that module extensions have a pure informational
+ purpose and no module alias are associated to them. Extensions defined with
+ :mfcmd:`provide` modulefile command are not affected by this mechanism.
+
+ This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the
+ :mconfig:`info_extension` configuration option. It can be defined with the
+ :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
+
+ .. only:: html or latex
+
+    .. versionadded:: 5.7
+
 .. envvar:: MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT
 
  A colon separated list of the elements to report in addition to module names

diff --git a/init/Makefile b/init/Makefile
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ comp_lint_opts := -a -i --all --icase
 comp_modtosh_opts := --auto --no-auto --force -f --icase -i
 comp_path_opts := -d --delim --duplicates
 comp_rm_path_opts := -d --delim --index
-comp_config_opts := --dump-state --reset abort_on_error advanced_version_spec auto_handling avail_indepth avail_output avail_terse_output cache_buffer_bytes cache_expiry_secs collection_pin_version collection_pin_tag collection_target color colors conflict_unload contact editor extended_default extra_siteconfig hide_auto_loaded home icase ignore_cache ignore_user_rc implicit_default implicit_requirement list_output list_terse_output locked_configs logged_events logger mcookie_check mcookie_version_check ml nearly_forbidden_days non_exportable_tags pager paginate path_entry_reorder protected_envvars quarantine_support rcfile redirect_output require_via reset_target_state run_quarantine search_match set_shell_startup shells_with_ksh_fpath silent_shell_debug source_cache spider_indepth spider_output spider_terse_output sticky_purge tag_abbrev tag_color_name tcl_linter term_background term_width unique_name_loaded unload_match_order variant_shortcut verbosity wa_277
+comp_config_opts := --dump-state --reset abort_on_error advanced_version_spec auto_handling avail_indepth avail_output avail_terse_output cache_buffer_bytes cache_expiry_secs collection_pin_version collection_pin_tag collection_target color colors conflict_unload contact editor extended_default extra_siteconfig hide_auto_loaded home icase ignore_cache ignore_user_rc implicit_default implicit_requirement info_extension list_output list_terse_output locked_configs logged_events logger mcookie_check mcookie_version_check ml nearly_forbidden_days non_exportable_tags pager paginate path_entry_reorder protected_envvars quarantine_support rcfile redirect_output require_via reset_target_state run_quarantine search_match set_shell_startup shells_with_ksh_fpath silent_shell_debug source_cache spider_indepth spider_output spider_terse_output sticky_purge tag_abbrev tag_color_name tcl_linter term_background term_width unique_name_loaded unload_match_order variant_shortcut verbosity wa_277
 
 define translate-in-script
 $(ECHO_GEN)

diff --git a/init/fish_completion b/init/fish_completion
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ complete -c module -n '__fish_module_use_stashlist' -f -a "(module stashlist --c
    /Stash collection list\$/d; \
    /:\$/d; \
    /:ERROR:/d;')"
-complete -c module -n '__fish_module_use_config' -f -a "--dump-state --reset abort_on_error advanced_version_spec auto_handling avail_indepth avail_output avail_terse_output cache_buffer_bytes cache_expiry_secs collection_pin_version collection_pin_tag collection_target color colors conflict_unload contact editor extended_default extra_siteconfig hide_auto_loaded home icase ignore_cache ignore_user_rc implicit_default implicit_requirement list_output list_terse_output locked_configs logged_events logger mcookie_check mcookie_version_check ml nearly_forbidden_days non_exportable_tags pager paginate path_entry_reorder protected_envvars quarantine_support rcfile redirect_output require_via reset_target_state run_quarantine search_match set_shell_startup shells_with_ksh_fpath silent_shell_debug source_cache spider_indepth spider_output spider_terse_output sticky_purge tag_abbrev tag_color_name tcl_linter term_background term_width unique_name_loaded unload_match_order variant_shortcut verbosity wa_277"
+complete -c module -n '__fish_module_use_config' -f -a "--dump-state --reset abort_on_error advanced_version_spec auto_handling avail_indepth avail_output avail_terse_output cache_buffer_bytes cache_expiry_secs collection_pin_version collection_pin_tag collection_target color colors conflict_unload contact editor extended_default extra_siteconfig hide_auto_loaded home icase ignore_cache ignore_user_rc implicit_default implicit_requirement info_extension list_output list_terse_output locked_configs logged_events logger mcookie_check mcookie_version_check ml nearly_forbidden_days non_exportable_tags pager paginate path_entry_reorder protected_envvars quarantine_support rcfile redirect_output require_via reset_target_state run_quarantine search_match set_shell_startup shells_with_ksh_fpath silent_shell_debug source_cache spider_indepth spider_output spider_terse_output sticky_purge tag_abbrev tag_color_name tcl_linter term_background term_width unique_name_loaded unload_match_order variant_shortcut verbosity wa_277"
 
 complete -f -n '__fish_module_no_subcommand' -c module -a 'help' --description 'Print this or modulefile(s) help info'
 complete -f -n '__fish_module_no_subcommand' -c module -a 'avail' --description 'List all or matching available modules'

diff --git a/init/zsh-functions/_module.in b/init/zsh-functions/_module.in
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ _module() {
                _arguments \
                   '--dump-state[Report each state value of current Modules execution]' \
                   '--reset[Unset environment variable relative to configuration key]' \
-                  '1:configuration key:(abort_on_error advanced_version_spec auto_handling avail_indepth avail_output avail_terse_output cache_buffer_bytes cache_expiry_secs collection_pin_version collection_pin_tag collection_target color colors conflict_unload contact editor extended_default extra_siteconfig hide_auto_loaded home icase ignore_cache ignore_user_rc implicit_default implicit_requirement list_output list_terse_output locked_configs logged_events logger mcookie_check mcookie_version_check ml nearly_forbidden_days non_exportable_tags pager paginate path_entry_reorder protected_envvars quarantine_support rcfile redirect_output require_via reset_target_state run_quarantine search_match set_shell_startup shells_with_ksh_fpath silent_shell_debug source_cache spider_indepth spider_output spider_terse_output sticky_purge tag_abbrev tag_color_name tcl_linter term_background term_width unique_name_loaded unload_match_order variant_shortcut verbosity wa_277)' \
+                  '1:configuration key:(abort_on_error advanced_version_spec auto_handling avail_indepth avail_output avail_terse_output cache_buffer_bytes cache_expiry_secs collection_pin_version collection_pin_tag collection_target color colors conflict_unload contact editor extended_default extra_siteconfig hide_auto_loaded home icase ignore_cache ignore_user_rc implicit_default implicit_requirement info_extension list_output list_terse_output locked_configs logged_events logger mcookie_check mcookie_version_check ml nearly_forbidden_days non_exportable_tags pager paginate path_entry_reorder protected_envvars quarantine_support rcfile redirect_output require_via reset_target_state run_quarantine search_match set_shell_startup shells_with_ksh_fpath silent_shell_debug source_cache spider_indepth spider_output spider_terse_output sticky_purge tag_abbrev tag_color_name tcl_linter term_background term_width unique_name_loaded unload_match_order variant_shortcut verbosity wa_277)' \
                   && ret=0
                ;;
             (edit)

diff --git a/tcl/init.tcl.in b/tcl/init.tcl.in
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ array set g_config_defs [list\
    ignored_dirs {{} {CVS RCS SCCS .svn .git .SYNC .sos} 0 o}\
    implicit_requirement {MODULES_IMPLICIT_REQUIREMENT @implicitrequirement@ 0\
       b {0 1}}\
+   info_extension {MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION 0 0 b {0 1}}\
    list_output {MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT {@listoutput@} 0 l {header idx variant\
       alias indesym sym tag hidden key} {} {} eltlist}\
    list_terse_output {MODULES_LIST_TERSE_OUTPUT {@listterseoutput@} 0 l\

diff --git a/tcl/interp.tcl.in b/tcl/interp.tcl.in
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ complete       {complete       complete-un    reportCmd      nop            nop
 conflict       {conflict       nop            reportCmd      nop            nop            nop            nop          conflict-sc }
 depends-on     {prereqAllModfileCmd  nop      reportCmd      nop            nop            nop            nop          prereq-all-sc}
 depends-on-any {prereqAnyModfileCmd  nop      reportCmd      nop            nop            nop            nop          prereq-sc   }
-extensions     {provide        nop            reportCmd      nop            nop            nop            nop          provide-sc  }
+extensions     {extensions     nop            reportCmd      nop            nop            nop            nop          extensions-sc}
 family         {family         family-un      reportCmd      nop            nop            nop            nop          family-sc   }
 haveDynamicMPATH {nop          nop            nop            nop            nop            nop            nop          nop         }
 hide-modulefile {hide-modulefile hide-modulefile hide-modulefile hide-modulefile hide-modulefile hide-modulefile nop   nop         }

diff --git a/tcl/mfcmd.tcl b/tcl/mfcmd.tcl
@@ -2388,6 +2388,17 @@ proc module-warn {args} {
    }
 }
 
+proc extensions {args} {
+   if {![llength $args]} {
+      knerror {No module specified in argument}
+   }
+   # skip alias definition for extensions cmd if info_extension is enabled
+   if {[getConf info_extension]} {
+      return
+   }
+   provide {*}$args
+}
+
 proc provide {args} {
    if {![llength $args]} {
       knerror {No module specified in argument}

diff --git a/tcl/modscan.tcl b/tcl/modscan.tcl
@@ -127,6 +127,19 @@ proc family-sc {name} {
    recordScanModuleElt $name family provided-alias
 }
 
+proc extensions-sc {args} {
+   if {![llength $args]} {
+      knerror {No module specified in argument}
+   }
+   set elt_list [list provide]
+   if {![getConf info_extension]} {
+      lappend elt_list provided-alias
+   }
+   foreach alias $args {
+      recordScanModuleElt $alias {*}$elt_list
+   }
+}
+
 proc provide-sc {args} {
    if {![llength $args]} {
       knerror {No module specified in argument}

diff --git a/testsuite/install.00-init/010-environ.exp b/testsuite/install.00-init/010-environ.exp
@@ -200,4 +200,7 @@ set env(LANG) "C"
 # ensure that tests doesn't run with Lmod path order
 unsetenv_var MODULES_PATH_ENTRY_REORDER
 
+# clean any module extension config
+unsetenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION
+
 # vim:set tabstop=3 shiftwidth=3 expandtab autoindent:
diff --git a/testsuite/modules.00-init/010-environ.exp b/testsuite/modules.00-init/010-environ.exp
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ catch {unset env(MODULE_VERSION_STACK)}
 # ensure that tests doesn't run with Lmod path order
 unsetenv_var MODULES_PATH_ENTRY_REORDER
 
+# clean any module extension config
+unsetenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION
+
 set env(MODULERCFILE) "$env(TESTSUITEDIR)/etc/empty"
 set ORIG_MODULERCFILE $env(MODULERCFILE)
 catch {unset env(MODULESHOME)}

diff --git a/testsuite/modules.50-cmds/512-extensions.exp b/testsuite/modules.50-cmds/512-extensions.exp
@@ -133,6 +133,26 @@ set tserr "$modlin $mpre $modlin
 testouterr_cmd_re sh "whatis $mod" OK $tserr
 
 
+# info_extension tests
+set mp $modpath.4
+setenv_var MODULEPATH $mp
+
+setenv_var TESTSUITE_PROVIDE extensions
+
+setenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION 0
+set ans [list]
+lappend ans [list set __MODULES_LMALTNAME provide/1&al|foo/1&al|bar/1&al|baz/1&al|qux/1&al|quux/1]
+lappend ans [list set _LMFILES_ $mp/provide/1]
+lappend ans [list set LOADEDMODULES provide/1]
+testouterr_cmd bash {load provide/1} $ans {}
+
+setenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION 1
+set ans [list]
+lappend ans [list set _LMFILES_ $mp/provide/1]
+lappend ans [list set LOADEDMODULES provide/1]
+testouterr_cmd bash {load provide/1} $ans {}
+
+
 #
 #  Cleanup
 #

diff --git a/testsuite/modules.50-cmds/720-provide.exp b/testsuite/modules.50-cmds/720-provide.exp
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ lappend ans [list set _LMFILES_ $mp/provide/1]
 lappend ans [list set LOADEDMODULES provide/1]
 testouterr_cmd bash {load provide/1} $ans {}
 
+# info_extension tests
+setenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION 1
+testouterr_cmd bash {load provide/1} $ans {}
+
+setenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION 0
+
 skip_if_quick_mode
 
 

diff --git a/testsuite/modules.51-scan/046-extra_spec-provide.exp b/testsuite/modules.51-scan/046-extra_spec-provide.exp
@@ -103,6 +103,24 @@ testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t provide:foo} OK $tserr
 testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t provided-alias:foo} OK $tserr
 
 
+#
+# info_extension tests
+#
+
+setenv_var MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION 1
+
+setenv_var TESTSUITE_PROVIDE multiple
+
+set tserr provide/1
+testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t provide provide:foo/1} OK $tserr
+testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t provide provided-alias:qux/1} OK $tserr
+
+setenv_var TESTSUITE_PROVIDE extensions
+
+testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t provide provide:foo/1} OK $tserr
+testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t provide provided-alias:qux/1} OK {}
+
+
 #
 #  Cleanup
 #

diff --git a/testsuite/modules.70-maint/220-config.exp b/testsuite/modules.70-maint/220-config.exp
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ array set configdfl [list\
     ignored_dirs              {CVS RCS SCCS .svn .git .SYNC .sos}\
     implicit_default          [expr {$install_implicitdefault eq {y}}]\
     implicit_requirement      [expr {$install_implicitrequirement eq {y}}]\
+    info_extension            0\
     list_output               $install_listoutput\
     list_terse_output         $install_listterseoutput\
     locked_configs            $install_lockedconfigs\
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@ array set configvar [list\
     ignore_user_rc            MODULES_IGNORE_USER_RC\
     implicit_default          MODULES_IMPLICIT_DEFAULT\
     implicit_requirement      MODULES_IMPLICIT_REQUIREMENT\
+    info_extension            MODULES_INFO_EXTENSION\
     list_output               MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT\
     list_terse_output         MODULES_LIST_TERSE_OUTPUT\
     logged_events             MODULES_LOGGED_EVENTS\
@@ -213,6 +215,7 @@ array set configvalid [list\
     ignore_user_rc            {0 1}\
     implicit_default          {0 1}\
     implicit_requirement      {0 1}\
+    info_extension            {0 1}\
     list_output               {header idx variant alias indesym sym tag hidden key}\
     list_terse_output         {header idx variant alias indesym sym tag hidden key}\
     logged_events             {auto_eval requested_eval requested_cmd}\