abiosoft/colima · error

unknown runner type: (valid options: docker, ramalama)

Error message

unknown runner type: %s (valid options: docker, ramalama)

What it means

GetRunner is the factory mapping a RunnerType to its Runner implementation; only RunnerDocker and RunnerRamalama are handled, and everything else — including the empty string — falls to the default branch. RunnerType values originate from CLI flags or environment input, so this error indicates unvalidated external input reaching the factory.

Solutions

1. Pass exactly 'docker' or 'ramalama', matching the valid options quoted in the message
2. Check the flag/env value for typos and trailing whitespace or stray quotes
3. If you maintain a fork that adds a runner, extend the switch and the error's option list together

Example fix

// before
r, err := GetRunner(runnerType)

// after: reject at the parse boundary instead of deep in the factory
if !isValidRunnerType(runnerType) {
	return fmt.Errorf("unknown runner type: %s (valid options: docker, ramalama)", runnerType)
}
r, err := GetRunner(runnerType)

func isValidRunnerType(rt RunnerType) bool {
	switch rt {
	case RunnerDocker, RunnerRamalama:
		return true
	}
	return false
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling GetRunner with any RunnerType other than the docker/ramalama constants: colima model --runner podman, a typo like 'dockerr', or a variable that was never set (empty string).

Common situations: Users guessing runner names borrowed from other tools (podman); automation passing values from a mismatched colima version; whitespace or quotes in interpolated values.

Related errors

• invalid downloader : must be one of
• is not running
• setup cancelled
• cannot make dir
• cannot open file for validation

AI-assisted analysis of abiosoft/colima@c3a5f9184d (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ea81ba6173411ed7. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at model/runner.go:79

	// CheckSetup checks if setup/update is needed and returns version info.
	// This should be called before Setup() to display version info on primary screen.
	CheckSetup() (SetupStatus, error)
	// Setup installs or updates the runner.
	// Call CheckSetup() first to determine if setup is needed.
	Setup() error
	// GetCurrentVersion returns the currently installed version.
	GetCurrentVersion() string
}

// GetRunner returns the appropriate Runner based on type.
func GetRunner(runnerType RunnerType) (Runner, error) {
	switch runnerType {
	case RunnerDocker:
		return &dockerRunner{}, nil
	case RunnerRamalama:
		return &ramalamaRunner{}, nil
	default:
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown runner type: %s (valid options: docker, ramalama)", runnerType)
	}
}

// validateCommonPrerequisites checks prerequisites common to all runners.
func validateCommonPrerequisites(a app.App) error {
	// VM must be running
	if !a.Active() {
		return fmt.Errorf("%s is not running", config.CurrentProfile().DisplayName)
	}

	// check runtime is docker
	r, err := a.Runtime()
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}
	if r != docker.Name {
		return fmt.Errorf("'colima model' requires docker runtime, current runtime is %s\n"+
			"Start colima with: colima start --runtime docker --vm-type krunkit", r)

View on GitHub (pinned to c3a5f9184d)