diff --git a/docs/source/resources/define-metadata.rst b/docs/source/resources/define-metadata.rst index 891dd759ef..8acc27be5d 100644 --- a/docs/source/resources/define-metadata.rst +++ b/docs/source/resources/define-metadata.rst @@ -992,9 +992,10 @@ words, a Python package would list ``python`` here and an R package would list The PREFIX environment variable points to the host prefix. With respect to activation during builds, both the host and build environments are activated. -The build prefix is activated before the host prefix so that the host prefix -has priority over the build prefix. Executables that don't exist in the host -prefix should be found in the build prefix. +The build prefix is activated *after* the host prefix so that the build prefix, +which always contains native executables for the running platform, has priority +over the host prefix, which is not guaranteed to provide native executables (e.g. +when cross-compiling). As of conda-build 3.1.4, the build and host prefixes are always separate when both are defined, or when ``{{ compiler() }}`` Jinja2 functions are used. The diff --git a/news/4942-docs-prefix-activation b/news/4942-docs-prefix-activation new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..9c9f0ca7f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/news/4942-docs-prefix-activation @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +### Enhancements + +* + +### Bug fixes + +* + +### Deprecations + +* + +### Docs + +* Clarify that the `build` prefix is activated _after_ the `host` prefix. (#4942) + +### Other + +*