dbt-labs/dbt-core · error · minijinja::Error

Unknown method on VarProvider

Error message

Unknown method on VarProvider: '{method}'

What it means

The VarProvider minijinja method dispatcher only implements 'to_dict'; every other method name falls into the `_` catch-all arm which raises ErrorKind::UnknownMethod with the requested name interpolated. Any method call other than to_dict() on this object is rejected at template render time.

Solutions

1. Check the method name against the implemented set in the match — only `to_dict` exists
2. Use `var_provider.to_dict()` and then use standard Jinja dict operations on the result
3. Add the desired method to the match arm in state.rs if the object should support it

Example fix

// before (template)
{% set my_var = var_provider.get('my_var') %}
// after
{% set all_vars = var_provider.to_dict() %}
{% set my_var = all_vars.get('my_var') %}

// In template: check the method exists before use
// {% if var_provider.to_dict is defined %}...{% endif %}
// In Rust, whitelist allowed method names before dispatch:
const METHODS: &[&str] = &["to_dict"];
assert!(METHODS.contains(&method), "unsupported method: {method}");

fn is_supported_var_provider_method(method: &str) -> bool {
    matches!(method, "to_dict")
}

match result {
    Err(e) if e.kind() == minijinja::ErrorKind::UnknownMethod => {
        // fall back to var_provider.to_dict() and dict access
    }
    other => other?,
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling any method other than `to_dict()` on a VarProvider value from a minijinja template, e.g. `var_provider.get('my_var')` or `var_provider.keys()` — typo'd names like `to_dicts` also land here.

Common situations: Template code assuming VarProvider is a full dict/object with dict methods (get, keys, items); typos in method names; API changes where a method was removed or renamed.

Related errors

• to_dict() takes no arguments
• {e}
• grants_table must be an AgateTable
• model_columns
• model_constraints

AI-assisted analysis of dbt-labs/dbt-core@0267ce9170 (2026-09-07). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ef8d7de0bd629d95. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at crates/dbt-schemas/src/state.rs:1296

impl Object for VarProvider {
    fn call_method(
        self: &Arc<Self>,
        _state: &minijinja::State<'_, '_>,
        method: &str,
        args: &[minijinja::Value],
        _listeners: &[std::rc::Rc<dyn minijinja::listener::RenderingEventListener>],
    ) -> Result<minijinja::Value, minijinja::Error> {
        match method {
            "to_dict" => {
                if !args.is_empty() {
                    return Err(minijinja::Error::new(
                        minijinja::ErrorKind::TooManyArguments,
                        "to_dict() takes no arguments",
                    ));
                }
                Ok(minijinja::Value::from(self.0.clone()))
            }
            _ => Err(minijinja::Error::new(
                minijinja::ErrorKind::UnknownMethod,
                format!("Unknown method on VarProvider: '{method}'"),
            )),
        }
    }
}
/// Represents the status of a model
#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Copy)]
pub enum ModelStatus {
    /// Model is enabled and successfully parsed
    Enabled,
    /// Model is disabled by configuration
    Disabled,
    /// Model failed to parse
    ParsingFailed,
}

#[cfg(test)]

View on GitHub (pinned to 0267ce9170)