DEVX-21: fix: always start dockerd in CI runner for molecule tests

src/devx/molecule/start_docker.py

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 """Start a Docker daemon inside a CI runner container (Docker-in-Docker).
 
-CI runners (e.g. ``gitea/runner-images:ubuntu-latest``) may not have a
-Docker daemon running. This module starts ``dockerd`` in the background
-and waits for it to become ready, or exits immediately if Docker is
-already available.
+CI runners (e.g. ``gitea/runner-images:ubuntu-latest``) may have the host's
+Docker socket mounted, but molecule needs a local Docker daemon to create
+nested containers. This module always starts ``dockerd`` in the background
+and waits for it to become ready.
 
 Usage::
 
@@ -38,14 +38,13 @@ def is_docker_ready() -> bool:
 def start_docker_daemon(timeout: int = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT) -> bool:
     """Start dockerd in the background and wait for it to be ready.
 
-    Returns ``True`` if Docker is ready (either already running or
-    successfully started), ``False`` if it failed to start within
-    the timeout.
-    """
-    if is_docker_ready():
-        click.echo(_("Docker daemon already running"))
-        return True
+    Always starts a local dockerd even if ``docker info`` succeeds,
+    because the host socket may be mounted but not suitable for
+    molecule's nested container creation.
 
+    Returns ``True`` if Docker is ready, ``False`` if it failed to
+    start within the timeout.
+    """
     click.echo(_("Starting Docker daemon..."))
     log_file = open(DOCKERD_LOG, "w")  # noqa: SIM115
     subprocess.Popen(  # nosec B603 B607

src/devx/translations.json

@@ -419,13 +419,6 @@
     "ru": "Created release commit.",
     "zh": "Created release commit."
   },
-  "Docker daemon already running": {
-    "bg": "Docker daemon already running",
-    "de": "Docker-Daemon läuft bereits",
-    "en": "Docker daemon already running",
-    "ru": "Docker-демон уже запущен",
-    "zh": "Docker 守护进程已在运行"
-  },
   "Docker daemon failed to start": {
     "bg": "Docker daemon failed to start",
     "de": "Docker-Daemon konnte nicht gestartet werden",