Hmbown/CodeWhale · error · anyhow::Error

workspace memory requires a git repository with an origin

Error message

workspace memory requires a git repository with an origin

What it means

Workspace-scoped native memory derives a stable workspace identity by hashing the repository's origin URL: workspace_id runs git config --get remote.origin.url in the workspace. When git exits non-zero (not a repository, or no origin remote) or the value is empty, it returns Ok(None), and workspace-scope operations like /memory native delete workspace fail with this message instead of guessing a scope.

Solutions

Run the command from the repository root that owns the memory scope.
Add an origin remote: git remote add origin <url> - worktrees sharing an origin share memory.
If the remote is named differently, rename it or add origin pointing at the same URL.
Use /memory native delete all or global when no workspace identity is intended.

Example fix

# before: repo has no origin - workspace scope cannot resolve
git init
/memory native delete workspace   # -> requires a git repository with an origin
# after: attach an origin so the workspace identity exists
git remote add origin https://example.com/me/proj.git
/memory native delete workspace

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

// Rust: check workspace identity before any workspace-scope memory op
let out = std::process::Command::new("git")
    .arg("-C").arg(&workspace)
    .args(["config", "--get", "remote.origin.url"])
    .output()?;
anyhow::ensure!(
    out.status.success() && !String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout).trim().is_empty(),
    "no git origin - workspace memory unavailable; use global scope"
);

Type guard

fn has_workspace_identity(ws: &std::path::Path) -> bool {
    std::process::Command::new("git")
        .arg("-C").arg(ws)
        .args(["config", "--get", "remote.origin.url"])
        .output()
        .map(|o| o.status.success() && !o.stdout.is_empty())
        .unwrap_or(false)
}

Prevention

Configure an origin remote immediately after git init in repos that will use workspace memory.
Remember worktrees sharing an origin share one memory scope.
Use the global scope in scratch directories that will never have a remote.

When it happens

Trigger: Running /memory native ... workspace outside a git repository; a repo initialized with git init but no git remote add origin; a remote named something other than origin (e.g. only upstream); a repo checked out from a bundle or by a tool that strips remotes.

Common situations: Scratch directories and temp workspaces; fresh repos before a remote is configured; CI checkouts without origin.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of Hmbown/CodeWhale@0c42157ee5 (2026-08-20). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e908969072cc8f9a. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at crates/tui/src/commands/groups/memory/memory.rs:203

        },
        "reindex" => match store.reindex() {
            Ok(count) => {
                CommandResult::message(format!("native memory reindexed: {count} entries"))
            }
            Err(err) => CommandResult::error(format!("native memory reindex failed: {err}")),
        },
        "delete" | "clear" => {
            let scope = arg.unwrap_or("all");
            let result = match scope {
                "all" => store.delete_all(None, None),
                "global" => store.delete_all(Some(crate::native_memory::MemoryScope::Global), None),
                "workspace" => {
                    match crate::native_memory::NativeMemoryStore::workspace_id(&app.workspace) {
                        Ok(Some(id)) => store.delete_all(
                            Some(crate::native_memory::MemoryScope::Workspace),
                            Some(&id),
                        ),
                        Ok(None) => Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
                            "workspace memory requires a git repository with an origin"
                        )),
                        Err(err) => Err(err),
                    }
                }
                _ => {
                    return CommandResult::error(
                        "Usage: /memory native delete [all|global|workspace]",
                    );
                }
            };
            match result {
                Ok(()) => CommandResult::message(format!("native memory {scope} deleted")),
                Err(err) => CommandResult::error(format!("native memory delete failed: {err}")),
            }
        }
        _ => CommandResult::error(
            "Usage: /memory native [status|path|remember ...|import|search <query>|get <id>|export|reindex|delete]",

View on GitHub (pinned to 0c42157ee5)