\Magento\Backup\Model\Backup::getFile() does not return a variable by reference

[michalrostek]

Preconditions and environment

• Magento 2.4.*, although I can see that this exists from the beginning...
• PHP 8.*, although it's not related to this version only (is an issue since PHP 5)...

Steps to reproduce

\Magento\Backup\Model\Backup::getFile():

public function &getFile()
{
    if (!$this->exists()) {
        throw new \Magento\Framework\Exception\LocalizedException(__('The backup file does not exist.'));
    }

    return $this->varDirectory->read($this->_getFilePath());
}

does not return a variable by reference (and only a variable should be returned this way)

Expected result

Only a variable is returned by reference

Actual result

Notice: Only variable references should be returned by reference in [...] // although the result may vary depending on the PHP version

Additional information

No response

Release note

No response

Triage and priority

• Severity: S0 - Affects critical data or functionality and leaves users without workaround.
• Severity: S1 - Affects critical data or functionality and forces users to employ a workaround.
• Severity: S2 - Affects non-critical data or functionality and forces users to employ a workaround.
• Severity: S3 - Affects non-critical data or functionality and does not force users to employ a workaround.
• Severity: S4 - Affects aesthetics, professional look and feel, “quality” or “usability”.

[m2-assistant]

Hi @michalrostek. Thank you for your report.
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[m2-assistant]

Hi @engcom-Delta. Thank you for working on this issue.
In order to make sure that issue has enough information and ready for development, please read and check the following instruction: 👇

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• 2. Verify that issue has a meaningful description and provides enough information to reproduce the issue.
• 3. Add Area: XXXXX label to the ticket, indicating the functional areas it may be related to.
• 4. Verify that the issue is reproducible on 2.4-develop branch
  Details

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  - If the issue is reproducible on 2.4-develop branch, please, add the label Reproduced on 2.4.x.
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[engcom-Delta]

Hi @michalrostek

Thank you for your report.

To speed up the processing of this issue, could you please elaborate more about steps to reproduce and actual results.

Thanks.

[michalrostek]

Hi @engcom-Delta! Just try using the method above, setting properties like: time, path, name and type beforehand (check e.g. \Magento\Framework\Backup\Db::create()) due to _getFilePath().

[m2-assistant]

Hi @engcom-Bravo. Thank you for working on this issue.
In order to make sure that issue has enough information and ready for development, please read and check the following instruction: 👇

• 1. Verify that issue has all the required information. (Preconditions, Steps to reproduce, Expected result, Actual result).
• 2. Verify that issue has a meaningful description and provides enough information to reproduce the issue.
• 3. Add Area: XXXXX label to the ticket, indicating the functional areas it may be related to.
• 4. Verify that the issue is reproducible on 2.4-develop branch
  Details

  - Add the comment @magento give me 2.4-develop instance to deploy test instance on Magento infrastructure.
  - If the issue is reproducible on 2.4-develop branch, please, add the label Reproduced on 2.4.x.
  - If the issue is not reproducible, add your comment that issue is not reproducible and close the issue and stop verification process here!
• 5. Add label Issue: Confirmed once verification is complete.
• 6. Make sure that automatic system confirms that report has been added to the backlog.