sync_pref can only be: src or dest, no path - path is no lon

Error message

sync_pref can only be: src or dest, no path - path is no longer needed it abstracted

What it means

Error "sync_pref can only be: src or dest, no path - path is no longer needed it abstracted" thrown in EugenMayer/docker-sync.

Source

Thrown at lib/docker-sync/sync_strategy/native_osx.rb:175

      def stop_container
        `docker ps | grep #{get_container_name} && docker stop #{get_container_name} && docker wait #{get_container_name}`
      end


      # cares about conflict resolution
      def sync_prefer
        case @options.fetch('sync_prefer', 'default')
          when 'default' then
            '-prefer /host_sync' # thats our default, if nothing is set
          when 'src' then
            '-prefer /host_sync'
          when 'dest' then
            '-prefer /app_sync'
          when 'newer' then
            '-prefer newer'
          else
            raise 'sync_pref can only be: src or dest, no path - path is no longer needed it abstracted'
        end
      end

      def expand_ignore_strings
        expanded_ignore_strings = []
        default_expanded_ignore_strings = []

        exclude_type = 'Name'
        unless @options['sync_excludes_type'].nil?
          exclude_type = @options['sync_excludes_type']
        end

        # use the 'Name' exclude type for all default ignores
        # to prevent conflicts with the sync_excludes_type settings
        unless Environment.default_ignores.nil?
          default_expanded_ignore_strings = Environment.default_ignores.map do |pattern|
            "-ignore='Name #{pattern}'"
          end

View on GitHub (pinned to 4eab6de164)

Solutions

Change sync_prefer to one of the supported symbolic values: 'src', 'dest', or 'newer'
Remove any absolute path from sync_prefer; paths are abstracted internally to /host_sync and /app_sync

Example fix

sync_options:
  sync_prefer: 'src'

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/docker-sync/sync_strategy/native_osx.rb:175 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of EugenMayer/docker-sync@4eab6de164 (2026-08-23). Data as JSON: /api/errors/b96af6a47ef3cbf2. Report an issue: GitHub.