GitoxideLabs/gitoxide · error

the rebase todo cannot select a checkout without a worktree

Error message

the rebase todo cannot select a checkout without a worktree

What it means

A reference line can mark a ref with `@` to select it as the checkout target after the rebase. This is only possible when the rebase state records checkout as allowed and the repository has a worktree; a bare repository or a checkout-disallowed state cannot honor the selection, so the todo is rejected.

Solutions

1. Remove the `@` marker from the reference line
2. Run the rebase in a non-bare repository with a worktree attached
3. Restart the rebase in a mode that permits checkout before using `@` selection

Example fix

// before
(main @)
// after (bare repo / checkout disallowed)
(main)

if edited.contains("@)") || edited.contains(" @\n") {
    if !checkout_allowed || repo.workdir().is_none() {
        return Err("cannot use @ checkout selection without a worktree");
    }
}

fn can_use_checkout_marker(repo: &gix::Repository, checkout_allowed: bool) -> bool {
    checkout_allowed && repo.workdir().is_some()
}

if let Err(e) = parse(repo, edited) {
    if e.to_string().contains("without a worktree") {
        // strip @ markers or open a non-bare worktree
    }
}

When it happens

Trigger: `parse` bails when a `@`-marked reference in a `( ... )` line is parsed while `state.checkout_allowed` is false or `repo.workdir()` is None. Happens when editing todos in a bare clone or when the rebase state was started in a mode that disallows checkout.

Common situations: Running tix in a bare repository or CI checkout without a worktree; carrying a `@` marker over from a template used in a normal clone; state started with checkout disabled.

Understand the failure class

Background: UnsupportedOperationException and "is not supported" errors: when a library deliberately refuses a call — this error's family across 30 libraries.

Related errors

• cannot delete because another worktree has it checked out
• a detached checked-out root commit cannot be removed
• a fork section contains no commits
• a fork target must be picked before it is used
• a reference is placed more than once

AI-assisted analysis of GitoxideLabs/gitoxide@e73179060b (2026-09-08). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f3b7779da355a8ad. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at gix-tix/src/edit/todo.rs:904

                anyhow::bail!("a fork target must be picked before it is used");
            } else {
                rebase::PlanParent::Existing(id)
            });
            sections += 1;
            section_has_commit = false;
            section_last_step = None;
            continue;
        }
        if line.starts_with('(') && line.ends_with(')') {
            let target = cursor.context("a reference line must follow a fork or command")?;
            for (marked, value) in parse_ref_line(line)? {
                let name = resolve_ref_name(repo, &mut state.expected_refs, value.as_bstr())?;
                if ref_targets.insert(name.clone(), target).is_some() {
                    anyhow::bail!("a reference is placed more than once");
                }
                if marked {
                    if !state.checkout_allowed || repo.workdir().is_none() {
                        anyhow::bail!("the rebase todo cannot select a checkout without a worktree");
                    }
                    if explicit_checkout_reference.replace((name, target)).is_some() {
                        anyhow::bail!("the rebase todo contains more than one @ reference");
                    }
                }
            }
            section_has_commit = true;
            continue;
        }

        let (command, tail) = if let Some(line) = line.strip_prefix('`') {
            let (command, tail) = line
                .split_once('`')
                .context("a Markdown todo command has no closing backtick")?;
            (command, tail.trim())
        } else {
            (line, "")
        };

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