Console commands don't use set version of solc / Apple M1 compatibility issues

[kalebima]

Environment information

• brownie Version: v1.19.2
• ganache-cli Version: ganache v7.5.0 (@ganache/cli: 0.6.0, @ganache/core: 0.6.0)
• solc Version: 0.8.17+commit.8df45f5f.Darwin.appleclang
• Python Version: Python 3.9.6
• OS: macOS (M1)

What was wrong?

I've been trying to get Brownie working on my M1 Mac, and I initially traced it back to the py-solc-x library that Brownie relies on for solc. Following this post I installed solc from Homebrew and created a symlink for py-solc-x to reference:

brew update
brew upgrade
brew tap ethereum/ethereum
brew install solidity
cd ~/.solcx
ln -s $(which solc) ./solc-v0.8.17

This solution works when I define my solc version in brownie-config.yaml, i.e. I can brownie compile the standard token mix without errors. The problem is that the Brownie console isn't picking up on the installed solc version, even after I specify via compiler. set_solc_version ("0.8.17"). Instead it ignores this and tries to install an older version of solc using a binary that isn't compatible with M1 Macs when I call Contract.from_explorer(). See this screenshot showing both cases (console first, and then compiling token mix afterwards):

[kalebima]

@BowTiedDevil have you heard of any of your readers running into this issue? I originally ran into it when I was going through one of your older posts to set up Brownie / test out interacting with the console

[kalebima]

Also @iamdefinitelyahuman I saw you were the owner of py-solc-x too, would you be able to take a look when you have a chance?