input file required when there is no Caddyfile in current di

Error message

input file required when there is no Caddyfile in current directory (use --config flag)

What it means

Error "input file required when there is no Caddyfile in current directory (use --config flag)" thrown in caddyserver/caddy.

Source

Thrown at cmd/commandfuncs.go:565

	printEnvironment()
	return caddy.ExitCodeSuccess, nil
}

func cmdAdaptConfig(fl Flags) (int, error) {
	configFlag := fl.String("config")
	adapterFlag := fl.String("adapter")
	prettyFlag := fl.Bool("pretty")
	validateFlag := fl.Bool("validate")

	var err error
	configFlag, err = configFileWithRespectToDefault(caddy.Log(), configFlag)
	if err != nil {
		return caddy.ExitCodeFailedStartup, err
	}
	if configFlag == "" {
		return caddy.ExitCodeFailedStartup,
			fmt.Errorf("input file required when there is no Caddyfile in current directory (use --config flag)")
	}

	// load all additional envs as soon as possible
	err = handleEnvFileFlag(fl)
	if err != nil {
		return caddy.ExitCodeFailedStartup, err
	}

	if adapterFlag == "" {
		return caddy.ExitCodeFailedStartup,
			fmt.Errorf("adapter name is required (use --adapt flag or leave unspecified for default)")
	}

	cfgAdapter := caddyconfig.GetAdapter(adapterFlag)
	if cfgAdapter == nil {
		return caddy.ExitCodeFailedStartup,
			fmt.Errorf("unrecognized config adapter: %s", adapterFlag)
	}

View on GitHub (pinned to 50e54ee279)

Solutions

Pass the input file explicitly with the --config flag, or create a Caddyfile in the current directory.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cmd/commandfuncs.go:565 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of caddyserver/caddy@50e54ee279 (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/2bff2db1ec3f2ce4. Report an issue: GitHub.