{"record":{"id":"9ee01ae45a324a7f","repo":"direnv/direnv","slug":"current-version-s-is-older-than-the-desired-versi","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"current version %s is older than the desired version %s","messagePattern":"current version (.+?) is older than the desired version (.+?)","errorType":"validation","errorClass":null,"httpStatus":null,"severity":"error","filePath":"internal/cmd/cmd_version.go","lineNumber":25,"sourceCode":"\t\"golang.org/x/mod/semver\"\n)\n\n// CmdVersion is `direnv version`\nvar CmdVersion = &Cmd{\n\tName:    \"version\",\n\tDesc:    \"prints the version or checks that direnv is older than VERSION_AT_LEAST.\",\n\tArgs:    []string{\"[VERSION_AT_LEAST]\"},\n\tAliases: []string{\"--version\"},\n\tAction: actionSimple(func(_ Env, args []string) error {\n\t\tsemVersion := ensureVPrefixed(version)\n\t\tif len(args) > 1 {\n\t\t\tatLeast := ensureVPrefixed(args[1])\n\t\t\tif !semver.IsValid(atLeast) {\n\t\t\t\treturn fmt.Errorf(\"%s is not a valid semver version\", atLeast)\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\tcmp := semver.Compare(semVersion, atLeast)\n\t\t\tif cmp < 0 {\n\t\t\t\treturn fmt.Errorf(\"current version %s is older than the desired version %s\", semVersion, atLeast)\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t} else {\n\t\t\tfmt.Println(version)\n\t\t}\n\t\treturn nil\n\t}),\n}\n\nfunc ensureVPrefixed(version string) string {\n\tif !strings.HasPrefix(version, \"v\") {\n\t\treturn \"v\" + version\n\t}\n\treturn version\n}\n","sourceCodeStart":7,"sourceCodeEnd":40,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/direnv/direnv/blob/b00e451f547f39be7ab836d969054114a465a0f9/internal/cmd/cmd_version.go#L7-L40","documentation":"direnv's `version` command compares the running binary's version (semVersion) against a user-supplied semver argument. When the current version is older than the desired version (semver.Compare returns < 0), the command fails with this error so callers (e.g. scripts pinning a minimum direnv version) can detect an outdated binary.","triggerScenarios":"Running `direnv version <x.y.z>` where the argument passes semver.IsValid but semver.Compare(current, atLeast) < 0 — i.e. the installed direnv is strictly older than the requested version. The argument must already be V-prefixed (ensureVPrefixed) and valid semver, otherwise a different error fires.","commonSituations":"CI scripts or provisioning tools assert a minimum direnv feature set; the installed binary (from an old package manager snapshot or system package) predates the required release. Common after OS upgrades or when using distro-packaged direnv that lags upstream.","solutions":["Upgrade direnv to a version >= the requested one (e.g. `go install github.com/direnv/direnv/v2@latest` or update the system package).","Lower the requested version argument to one the installed binary satisfies if the newer features are not actually needed.","If the check runs in CI, install a pinned direnv version in the job setup before invoking `direnv version`.","Handle the non-zero exit gracefully in scripts and print upgrade instructions."],"exampleFix":"// before (fails on old binary)\ndirenv version 2.32.0\n// after\n# install an up-to-date binary first\ngo install github.com/direnv/direnv/v2@latest\ndirenv version 2.32.0","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"ver=$(direnv version 2>/dev/null || echo v0.0.0)\nwant=v2.32.0\nif [ \"$(printf '%s\\n%s\\n' \"$ver\" \"$want\" | sort -V | head -n1)\" != \"$want\" ]; then\n  echo \"direnv $ver is older than required $want\" >&2; exit 1\nfi","typeGuard":null,"tryCatchPattern":"if ! out=$(direnv version \"$want\" 2>&1); then\n  echo \"$out\" >&2  # current version ... is older than ...\n  echo \"upgrade direnv (e.g. go install github.com/direnv/direnv/v2@latest)\" >&2\nfi","preventionTips":["Pin and install a minimum direnv version in CI/provisioning before running version checks.","Use sort -V or a semver tool to pre-check versions in shell scripts.","Keep direnv updated via your package manager or go install @latest.","Fail fast with a clear upgrade message when the check fails."],"tags":["cli","versioning","semver"],"backgroundTag":"version-requirement-not-met","analyzedSha":"b00e451f547f39be7ab836d969054114a465a0f9","analyzedAt":"2026-09-05T21:39:49.983Z","contentChangedAt":"2026-09-05T21:39:49.983Z","schemaVersion":2},"datasetVersion":"2026-09-12T22:17:10.623Z"}