GraphiteEditor/Graphite · error

Path node does not exist

Error message

Path node does not exist

What it means

When a freehand stroke starts on empty space, the tool creates a new layer whose root is the built-in 'Path' network node, resolved by string name via resolve_network_node_type("Path"). This consults DOCUMENT_NODE_TYPES with a DefinitionIdentifier::Network("Path") key; the expect panics if no network-node definition is registered under that exact name. Unlike proto nodes, network nodes are pure editor-side structural definitions, so a miss almost always means the definition list was edited and 'Path' was renamed or dropped. The panic occurs on the first click/drag of a freehand path in a document.

Source

Thrown at editor/src/messages/tool/tool_messages/freehand_tool.rs:301

					let mut selected_layers_except_artboards = selected_nodes.selected_layers_except_artboards(&document.network_interface);
					let existing_layer = selected_layers_except_artboards.next().filter(|_| selected_layers_except_artboards.next().is_none());
					if let Some(layer) = existing_layer {
						tool_data.layer = Some(layer);

						let transform = document.metadata().transform_to_viewport(layer);
						let position = transform.inverse().transform_point2(input.mouse.position);

						extend_path_with_next_segment(tool_data, position, false, responses);

						return FreehandToolFsmState::Drawing;
					}
				}

				responses.add(DocumentMessage::DeselectAllLayers);

				let parent = document.new_layer_bounding_artboard(input, viewport);

				let node_type = resolve_network_node_type("Path").expect("Path node does not exist");
				let node = node_type.default_node_template();
				let nodes = vec![(NodeId(0), node)];

				let layer = graph_modification_utils::new_custom(NodeId::new(), nodes, parent, responses);
				tool_options.drawing.fill.apply_fill(layer, responses);
				tool_options.drawing.apply_stroke_to_new_layer(layer, responses);
				tool_options.drawing.apply_stroke_order_to_new_layer(layer, responses);
				tool_data.layer = Some(layer);
				tool_data.new_layer_viewport_start = Some(input.mouse.position);

				// Position the layer at the initial mouse position via Transform
				responses.add(DeferMessage::AfterGraphRun {
					messages: vec![translation_transform_set(document, layer, input.mouse.position), NodeGraphMessage::RunDocumentGraph.into()],
				});

				FreehandToolFsmState::Drawing
			}
			(FreehandToolFsmState::Drawing, FreehandToolMessage::PointerMove) => {

View on GitHub (pinned to c507b35645)

Solutions

1. Check the registry key: call collect_node_types() or inspect document_node_definitions() for a Network definition named exactly "Path".
2. Replace the hardcoded "Path" literals in freehand_tool.rs, pen_tool.rs, and spline_tool.rs with a shared constant that is defined next to the node definition, so rename and call site cannot drift.
3. If the node was renamed, update the definition name back or add the new name to the registry under the old key.
4. If Path was intentionally removed, return early from the tool transition and surface a warning instead of expecting.

Example fix

// before
let node_type = resolve_network_node_type("Path").expect("Path node does not exist");
let node = node_type.default_node_template();

// after (shared constant defined where the node is registered)
let node_type = resolve_network_node_type(PATH_NODE_NAME).expect("Path node can't be found");
let node = node_type.default_node_template();

fn path_node_registered() -> bool {
	resolve_network_node_type("Path").is_some()
}

if path_node_registered() {
	let node = resolve_network_node_type("Path").unwrap().default_node_template();
	// proceed with layer creation
}

When it happens

Trigger: Freehand tool click that is not extending an existing path: the FSM calls DocumentMessage::DeselectAllLayers, then resolve_network_node_type("Path").expect("Path node does not exist") followed by default_node_template() to seed the new custom layer.

Common situations: Renaming the Path network node definition (e.g., localization or renaming passes) without updating the three tool call sites that hardcode "Path"; deleting the Path definition because a refactor moved path storage elsewhere; typos introduced when the string was duplicated instead of shared as a constant.

Related errors

• Path node does not exist
• Path node does not exist
• Star node can't be found
• Brush node does not exist
• Spline node does not exist

AI-assisted analysis of GraphiteEditor/Graphite@c507b35645 (2026-08-16). Data as JSON: /api/errors/9c3d9c3ee8b8dbcd. Report an issue: GitHub.