Morganamilo/paru · error

unknown option

Error message

unknown option --{}

What it means

The parser encountered a long option (`--name`) that is neither a recognized pacman argument nor a pacman global argument, so `handle_arg` bails with 'unknown option --{}'. This is the catch-all arm for unrecognized long flags.

Solutions

1. Correct the flag spelling (check `--help`)
2. Remove the unrecognized flag or use the closest supported equivalent
3. Check the version changelog if a flag was renamed between releases

Example fix

// before
paru --nosignature
// after
paru --nosigndb  // or another valid flag; check --help

function is_known_long_flag(flag: string, known: Set<string>): boolean {
  return known.has(flag.replace(/^--/, ''));
}

match cli::parse(&args) {
    Err(e) if e.to_string().starts_with("unknown option") => {
        eprintln!("{} — run with --help for valid options", e);
        std::process::exit(2);
    }
    Err(e) => return Err(e),
    Ok(cmd) => cmd.run(),
}

When it happens

Trigger: Invoking the tool with a long flag like `--foo` or `--repo-sync` that is not in the known pacman/pacman-global sets; typos of valid flags (e.g. `--colour` instead of `--color`).

Common situations: Typoed flags; flags removed/renamed in newer versions of the tool; copy-pasted flags from other package managers; scripts built against an older CLI surface.

Understand the failure class

Background: "Unknown argument", "Invalid value", and "must be one of": invalid CLI argument errors explained — this error's family across 35 libraries.

Related errors

• option expects a value
• unknown option
• option does not allow a value
• option must be a number
• no targets specified (use -h for help)

AI-assisted analysis of Morganamilo/paru@9ac3578807 (2026-09-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/be3c6150dda25aec. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/command_line.rs:373

            Arg::Long("nochroot") => self.chroot = false,
            Arg::Long("sign") => {
                self.sign = match value {
                    Ok(k) => Sign::Key(k.to_string()),
                    Err(_) => Sign::Yes,
                }
            }
            Arg::Long("nokeeprepocache") => self.keep_repo_cache = false,
            Arg::Long("keeprepocache") => self.keep_repo_cache = true,
            Arg::Long("signdb") => {
                self.sign_db = match value {
                    Ok(k) => Sign::Key(k.to_string()),
                    Err(_) => Sign::Yes,
                }
            }
            Arg::Long("nosign") => self.sign = Sign::No,
            Arg::Long("nosigndb") => self.sign_db = Sign::No,
            Arg::Long(a) if !arg.is_pacman_arg() && !arg.is_pacman_global() => {
                bail!(tr!("unknown option --{}", a))
            }
            Arg::Short(a) if !arg.is_pacman_arg() && !arg.is_pacman_global() => {
                bail!(tr!("unknown option -{}", a))
            }
            _ => (),
        }

        match takes_value(arg) {
            TakesValue::No if forced => bail!(tr!("option {} does not allow a value", arg)),
            _ => (),
        }

        Ok(())
    }
}

fn split_whitespace(s: &str) -> Vec<String> {
    s.split_whitespace().map(|s| s.to_string()).collect()

View on GitHub (pinned to 9ac3578807)