balderdashy/sails · error

E_BAD_GLOBAL_CONFIG

E_BAD_GLOBAL_CONFIG

Error message

As of Sails v1, if `sails.config.globals` is defined, it must either be `false` or a dictionary (plain JavaScript object) or `false`.  But instead, got: '+util.inspect(sails.config.globals, {depth:null})+'\n> Note: if no globals are desired, set `sails.config.globals` to `false`.

What it means

Error "As of Sails v1, if `sails.config.globals` is defined, it must either be `false` or a dictionary (plain JavaScript object) or `false`. But instead, got: '+util.inspect(sails.config.globals, {depth:null})+'\n> Note: if no globals are desired, set `sails.config.globals` to `false`." thrown in balderdashy/sails.

Source

Thrown at lib/app/private/exposeGlobals.js:39

module.exports = function exposeGlobals() {
  var sails = this;

  // Implicit default for globals is `false`, to allow for intuitive programmatic
  // usage of `sails.lift()`/`sails.load()` in automated tests, command-line scripts,
  // scheduled jobs, etc.
  //
  // > Note that this is not the same as the boilerplate `config/globals.js` settings,
  // > since the use of certain global variables is still the recommended approach for
  // > the code you write in your Sails app's controller actions, etc.
  if (_.isUndefined(sails.config.globals)) {
    sails.config.globals = false;
    return;
  }

  // If globals config is provided, it must be either `false` or a dictionary.
  else if (sails.config.globals !== false && (!_.isObject(sails.config.globals) || _.isArray(sails.config.globals) || _.isFunction(sails.config.globals))) {
    throw flaverr({ name: 'userError', code: 'E_BAD_GLOBAL_CONFIG' }, new Error('As of Sails v1, if `sails.config.globals` is defined, it must either be `false` or a dictionary (plain JavaScript object) or `false`.  But instead, got: '+util.inspect(sails.config.globals, {depth:null})+'\n> Note: if no globals config is specified, Sails will now assume `false` (no globals).  This is to allow for more intuitive programmatic usage.\nFor more info, see http://sailsjs.com/config/globals'));
  }

  // Globals explicitly disabled.
  if (sails.config.globals === false) {
    sails.log.verbose('No global variables will be exposed.');
    return;
  }

  sails.log.verbose('Exposing global variables... (you can customize/disable this by modifying the properties in `sails.config.globals`.  Set it to `false` to disable all globals.)');

  // `sails.config.globals._` must be false or an object.
  // (it's probably a function with lots of extra properties, but to future-proof, we'll allow any type of object)
  if (sails.config.globals._ !== false) {
    if (!_.isObject(sails.config.globals._)) {
      throw flaverr({ name: 'userError', code: 'E_BAD_GLOBAL_CONFIG' }, new Error('As of Sails v1, `sails.config.globals._` must be either `false` or a locally-installed version of Lodash (typically `require(\'lodash\')`).  For more info, see http://sailsjs.com/config/globals'));
    }
    global['_'] = sails.config.globals._;
  }

View on GitHub (pinned to 7b76422cc2)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/app/private/exposeGlobals.js:39 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of balderdashy/sails@7b76422cc2 (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/3bdf357c3e622407. Report an issue: GitHub.