encrypt file in batch mode

[Fourhundred Thecat]

On 03/11/2019 07.52, Tony Lane via Gnupg-users wrote:
> On 11/3/19 1:24 AM, Fourhundred Thecat wrote:
>
>> But it makes no sense. This particular private key has no passphrase. So
>> shouldn't signing work in batch mode as well ?
> Are you sure? Try to --edit-key and select that key (not the cert key).
> Then passwd, for the empty passphrase. Don't forget to save.

I am sure the private key has no passphrase. Everything worked fine with
same private key on gpg 1.4.12

But now, I cannot even list keys from secring.gpg

$ gpg --list-secret-keys
gpg: can't connect to the agent: No such file or directory
gpg: failed to start agent '/usr/bin/gpg-agent': No such file or directory

Same error when I try "--edit-key"

  failed to start agent '/usr/bin/gpg-agent': No such file or directory


The only thing that works is "gpg --list-packets secring.gpg"

$ gpg --list-packets secring.gpg | grep protect

I believe this shows that secret key is not password protected

If it was, it would have:
  protect count:
  protect IV:

>> Also, I still get an error when trustdb.gpg is not writable.
>> --lock-never
> Be careful with that option. The docs say this:
>> This option should be used only in very special environments
>> Improper usage of this option may lead to data and key corruption.
> Is there a chance that's what's happening here?

well, if trustdb.gpg is not writable, how could it lead to corruption.
That's the whole point. I want read-only access to trustdb.gpg, because
I don't want to make any changes.