charmbracelet/vhs · error · parser.Error

expected boolean value.

Error message

expected boolean value.

What it means

Fires in parseSet when the value given for the CursorBlink setting is not a BOOLEAN token. The parser only accepts true or false; any other literal (e.g. 1, yes, on) triggers the error while the value is still stored in cmd.Args.

Solutions

1. Use true or false, e.g. Set CursorBlink false
2. Replace numeric or textual truthy values like 1 or yes with true/false

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at parser/parser.go:523 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of charmbracelet/vhs@c073383b5d (2026-09-02). Data as JSON: /api/errors/bea91675adc8ad65. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at parser/parser.go:523

			if err != nil || len(marginFill) != 7 {
				p.errors = append(
					p.errors,
					NewError(
						p.cur,
						"\""+marginFill+"\" is not a valid color.",
					),
				)
			}
		}
	case token.CURSOR_BLINK:
		cmd.Args = p.peek.Literal
		p.nextToken()

		if p.cur.Type != token.BOOLEAN {
			p.errors = append(
				p.errors,
				NewError(p.cur, "expected boolean value."),
			)
		}

	default:
		cmd.Args = p.peek.Literal
		p.nextToken()
	}

	return cmd
}

// parseSleep parses a sleep command.
// A sleep command takes a time for how long to sleep.
//
//	Sleep <time>
func (p *Parser) parseSleep() Command {
	cmd := Command{Type: token.SLEEP}
	cmd.Args = p.parseTime()

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