Hmbown/CodeWhale · error · anyhow::Error

import source must be a compatible external skill

Error message

import source must be a compatible external skill

What it means

Raised in import_external when the audited source skill's source_kind is not CompatibleExternal. The import flow only copies skills that the audit scanner classified as compatible external packages (e.g. externally installed skill directories); importing a built-in, managed, or otherwise classified skill is rejected by this guard on the AuditedSkillId's source_kind field.

Source

Thrown at crates/tui/src/skills/mutation.rs:651

            scope: target.as_skill_scope(),
            safe_target_path: safe_display_path(&skills_dir, Some(ctx.workspace), ctx.home),
            before_digest: None,
            after_digest: None,
            outcome: SkillMutationOutcome::NetworkDenied(host),
        }),
    }
}

fn import_external(
    source_id: AuditedSkillId,
    expected_digest: String,
    target: SkillTargetScope,
    conflict_policy: ConflictPolicy,
    ctx: &MutationContext<'_>,
) -> Result<SkillMutationReceipt> {
    let (source_skill, source_path) = find_audited_skill(ctx, &source_id)?;
    if source_skill.source_kind != SkillSourceKind::CompatibleExternal {
        bail!("import source must be a compatible external skill");
    }
    if source_skill.path_unsafe {
        bail!("refusing to import unsafe external skill package");
    }

    let owned_snap = scan_with_configured(
        ctx.workspace,
        ctx.home,
        ctx.configured_skills_dir,
        SkillAuditMode::OwnedOnly,
        None,
    );
    let owned_has_name = owned_snap
        .skills
        .iter()
        .any(|s| s.id.canonical_name == source_id.canonical_name);

    if !owned_has_name && !source_skill.import_candidate {

View on GitHub (pinned to 0c42157ee5)

Solutions

1. Pass an AuditedSkillId whose audit entry reports SkillSourceKind::CompatibleExternal
2. Re-run the skill audit/scan so the source is classified from its current on-disk location
3. Use the appropriate flow (update/trust) instead of import for managed or owned skills

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at crates/tui/src/skills/mutation.rs:651 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of Hmbown/CodeWhale@0c42157ee5 (2026-08-20). Data as JSON: /api/errors/d3d42cd0c348e3c4. Report an issue: GitHub.