spack env create: generate a view when newly created env has concrete specs (#37799)

lib/spack/spack/cmd/env.py

@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ def env_create(args):
         # the environment should not include a view.
         with_view = None
 
-    _env_create(
+    env = _env_create(
         args.create_env,
         init_file=args.envfile,
         dir=args.dir,
@@ -310,6 +310,9 @@ def env_create(args):
         keep_relative=args.keep_relative,
     )
 
+    # Generate views, only really useful for environments created from spack.lock files.
+    env.regenerate_views()
+
 
 def _env_create(name_or_path, *, init_file=None, dir=False, with_view=None, keep_relative=False):
     """Create a new environment, with an optional yaml description.

lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/env.py

@@ -3299,3 +3299,22 @@ def test_environment_created_in_users_location(mutable_config, tmpdir):
     assert dir_name in out
     assert env_dir in ev.root(dir_name)
     assert os.path.isdir(os.path.join(env_dir, dir_name))
+
+
+def test_environment_created_from_lockfile_has_view(mock_packages, tmpdir):
+    """When an env is created from a lockfile, a view should be generated for it"""
+    env_a = str(tmpdir.join("a"))
+    env_b = str(tmpdir.join("b"))
+
+    # Create an environment and install a package in it
+    env("create", "-d", env_a)
+    with ev.Environment(env_a):
+        add("libelf")
+        install("--fake")
+
+    # Create another environment from the lockfile of the first environment
+    env("create", "-d", env_b, os.path.join(env_a, "spack.lock"))
+
+    # Make sure the view was created
+    with ev.Environment(env_b) as e:
+        assert os.path.isdir(e.view_path_default)