apache/hadoop · error · IllegalArgumentException

chmod : mode '" + modeStr + "' does not match the expected p

Error message

chmod : mode '" + modeStr + "' does not match the expected pattern.

What it means

Error "chmod : mode '" + modeStr + "' does not match the expected pattern." thrown in apache/hadoop.

Source

Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FsShellPermissions.java:93

      "mode, e.g. 754 is same as u=rwx,g=rx,o=r.\n\n" +
      "If none of 'augo' is specified, 'a' is assumed and unlike the " +
      "shell command, no umask is applied.";

    protected ChmodParser pp;

    @Override
    protected void processOptions(LinkedList<String> args) throws IOException {
      CommandFormat cf = new CommandFormat(2, Integer.MAX_VALUE, "R", null);
      cf.parse(args);
      setRecursive(cf.getOpt("R"));

      String modeStr = args.removeFirst();
      try {
        pp = new ChmodParser(modeStr);
      } catch (IllegalArgumentException iea) {
        // TODO: remove "chmod : " so it's not doubled up in output, but it's
        // here for backwards compatibility...
        throw new IllegalArgumentException(
            "chmod : mode '" + modeStr + "' does not match the expected pattern.");      
      }
    }
    
    @Override
    protected void processPath(PathData item) throws IOException {
      short newperms = pp.applyNewPermission(item.stat);
      if (item.stat.getPermission().toShort() != newperms) {
        try {
          item.fs.setPermission(item.path, new FsPermission(newperms));
        } catch (IOException e) {
          LOG.debug("Error changing permissions of " + item, e);
          throw new IOException(
              "changing permissions of '" + item + "': " + e.getMessage());
        }
      }
    }    
  }

View on GitHub (pinned to 2add963021)

Solutions

1. Use an octal mode like 755 or a symbolic mode like u+rwx matching chmod syntax.
2. Quote the mode argument to prevent shell mangling.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FsShellPermissions.java:93 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/hadoop@2add963021 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/95624892e76e9887. Report an issue: GitHub.