Make build step work for hh5 environment

benchcab/benchcab.py

@@ -44,10 +44,18 @@ def __init__(
         self.benchcab_exe_path = benchcab_exe_path
         self.validate_env = validate_env
 
+        self._system_paths = ["/bin", "/usr/bin", "/usr/local/bin"]
         self._config: Optional[dict] = None
         self._models: list[Model] = []
         self.tasks: list[Task] = []  # initialise fluxsite tasks lazily
 
+        self._set_environment()
+
+    def _set_environment(self):
+        """Sets environment variables on current user environment."""
+        # Prioritize system binaries over externally set $PATHs (#220)
+        os.environ["PATH"] = f"{':'.join(self._system_paths)}:{os.environ['PATH']}"
+
     def _validate_environment(self, project: str, modules: list):
         """Performs checks on current user environment."""
         if not self.validate_env:
@@ -85,6 +93,14 @@ def _validate_environment(self, project: str, modules: list):
                 print(f"Error: module ({modname}) is not available.")
                 sys.exit(1)
 
+        system_paths = os.getenv("PATH").split(":")[: len(self._system_paths)]
+        if set(system_paths) != set(self._system_paths):
+            msg = f"""Error: System paths are not prioritized over user-defined paths
+                    Currently set as: {system_paths}
+                    The required system paths are: {self._system_paths}
+            """
+            raise EnvironmentError(msg)
+
         all_site_ids = set(
             internal.MEORG_EXPERIMENTS["five-site-test"]
             + internal.MEORG_EXPERIMENTS["forty-two-site-test"]