A concurrent file appeared at ${update.target} while archive

Error message

A concurrent file appeared at ${update.target} while archive was retiring it.

What it means

Error "A concurrent file appeared at ${update.target} while archive was retiring it." thrown in Fission-AI/OpenSpec.

Source

Thrown at src/core/specs-apply.ts:843

      throw new Error(
        `Could not retire capability '${update.id}': ${update.target} resolves outside ` +
          `${mainSpecsDir}. Remove the external file by hand, or replace the symlink and rerun.`
      );
    }
  }

  let displacedPath: string | undefined;
  try {
    await options.beforeMutate?.();
    if (options.verifyDisplaced) {
      const displaced = `${update.target}.openspec-retire-${randomUUID()}`;
      displacedPath = displaced;
      await fs.rename(update.target, displaced);
      try {
        await options.verifyDisplaced(displaced);
        try {
          await fs.lstat(update.target);
          throw new Error(
            `A concurrent file appeared at ${update.target} while archive was retiring it.`
          );
        } catch (targetError) {
          if ((targetError as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code !== 'ENOENT') throw targetError;
        }
        if (!options.deferDelete) await fs.unlink(displaced);
      } catch (error) {
        try {
          await fs.lstat(update.target);
          throw new Error(
            `${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)} ` +
              `A concurrent file now occupies ${update.target}; the displaced spec was retained at ${displaced}.`
          );
        } catch (targetError) {
          if ((targetError as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code !== 'ENOENT') throw targetError;
        }
        await fs.rename(displaced, update.target);
        throw error;

View on GitHub (pinned to 6926ccb18a)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at src/core/specs-apply.ts:843 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of Fission-AI/OpenSpec@6926ccb18a (2026-08-25). Data as JSON: /api/errors/edd83a8fd5437fc0. Report an issue: GitHub.