What causes "JSON output isn't implemented yet" in GitoxideLabs/gitoxide?

Use the default human format (omit `--format` or pass `human`)

GitoxideLabs/gitoxide · error · anyhow::Error

JSON output isn't implemented yet

Error message

JSON output isn't implemented yet

What it means

The `dirty` check command supports two output formats, but only the human-readable format is implemented. Passing `OutputFormat::Json` (e.g. `--format json` on the CLI) throws this error because JSON serialization of the dirtiness result was never added.

Solutions

Use the default human format (omit `--format` or pass `human`)
Parse the human-readable output if automation is needed (fragile; prefer waiting for JSON support)
Implement or upvote JSON output support in the dirty subcommand

Example fix

// before
check(repo, mode, out, OutputFormat::Json)?;
// after
check(repo, mode, out, OutputFormat::Human)?;

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

if format != OutputFormat::Human {
    eprintln!("dirty check only supports human output");
    format = OutputFormat::Human;
}

Type guard

fn supports_json_output(cmd: &str) -> bool {
    !matches!(cmd, "dirty" | "dirwalk" | "exclude" | "fetch")
}

Try / catch

match dirty::check(repo, mode, &mut out, format) {
    Ok(()) => (),
    Err(e) if e.to_string().contains("JSON output") => {
        dirty::check(repo, mode, &mut out, OutputFormat::Human)?;
    }
    Err(e) => return Err(e),
}

Prevention

Only pass --format json to subcommands documented as supporting it
Check subcommand help output for supported formats
Default to OutputFormat::Human unless JSON is confirmed available

When it happens

Trigger: Calling `check` in gitoxide-core/src/repository/dirty.rs with `format: OutputFormat::Json` — i.e. running `gix status dirty --format json` or equivalent.

Common situations: CI scripts or tooling that expects machine-readable output for the dirty check; developers who habitually pass `--format json` because other gix subcommands support it.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of GitoxideLabs/gitoxide@e73179060b (2026-09-08). Data as JSON: /api/errors/92f68ec35b2d0d60. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at gitoxide-core/src/repository/dirty.rs:17

use anyhow::bail;

use crate::OutputFormat;

pub enum Mode {
    IsClean,
    IsDirty,
}

pub fn check(
    repo: gix::Repository,
    mode: Mode,
    out: &mut dyn std::io::Write,
    format: OutputFormat,
) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    if format != OutputFormat::Human {
        bail!("JSON output isn't implemented yet");
    }
    let is_dirty = repo.is_dirty()?;
    let res = match (is_dirty, mode) {
        (false, Mode::IsClean) => Ok("The repository is clean"),
        (true, Mode::IsClean) => Err("The repository has changes"),
        (false, Mode::IsDirty) => Err("The repository is clean"),
        (true, Mode::IsDirty) => Ok("The repository has changes"),
    };

    let suffix = "(not counting untracked files)";
    match res {
        Ok(msg) => writeln!(out, "{msg} {suffix}")?,
        Err(msg) => bail!("{msg} {suffix}"),
    }
    Ok(())
}

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