Fission-AI/OpenSpec · error · Error

--language does not overwrite an existing OpenSpec config. A

Error message

--language does not overwrite an existing OpenSpec config. Add the language instruction to its context field instead.

What it means

Error "--language does not overwrite an existing OpenSpec config. Add the language instruction to its context field instead." thrown in Fission-AI/OpenSpec.

Source

Thrown at src/core/init.ts:1081

    if (!hasConfig) {
      try {
        FileSystemUtils.assertProjectArtifactPath(projectPath, configPath);
      } catch (error) {
        const reason = error instanceof Error ? `: ${error.message}` : '';
        throw new Error(`Cannot create openspec/config.yaml for --language${reason}`);
      }
      if (!(await FileSystemUtils.canWriteFile(configPath))) {
        throw new Error(
          'Cannot create openspec/config.yaml for --language: the destination is not writable.'
        );
      }
      return;
    }

    const existingContext = readProjectConfig(projectPath)?.context;
    if (existingContext?.includes(languageContext)) return;

    throw new Error(
      '--language does not overwrite an existing OpenSpec config. ' +
      'Add the language instruction to its context field instead.'
    );
  }

  private async createConfig(openspecPath: string, extendMode: boolean): Promise<'created' | 'exists' | 'skipped'> {
    const configPath = path.join(openspecPath, 'config.yaml');
    const configYmlPath = path.join(openspecPath, 'config.yml');
    const configYamlExists = fs.existsSync(configPath);
    const configYmlExists = fs.existsSync(configYmlPath);

    if (configYamlExists || configYmlExists) {
      return 'exists';
    }


    try {
      const yamlContent = serializeConfig({

View on GitHub (pinned to 6926ccb18a)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at src/core/init.ts:1081 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/b8f359cff77cd442. Report an issue: GitHub.