different-ai/openwork · error

Failed to locate opencode.

Error message

Failed to locate opencode.

What it means

Thrown by `opencodeMcpAuth` when `resolveBinary("opencode")` returns no path — the runtime cannot find an executable `opencode` binary to run for MCP authentication. This check happens after argument validation but before the process spawn, so it guarantees the CLI exists before shelling out.

Source

Thrown at apps/desktop/electron/runtime.mjs:2274

      status: result.status,
      stdout: result.stdout,
      stderr: result.stderr,
    };
  }

  async function opencodeMcpAuth(projectDir, serverName) {
    const safeProjectDir = String(projectDir ?? "").trim();
    const safeServerName = String(serverName ?? "").trim();
    if (!safeProjectDir) {
      throw new Error("project_dir is required");
    }
    if (!safeServerName) {
      throw new Error("server_name is required");
    }

    const program = resolveBinary("opencode");
    if (!program) {
      throw new Error("Failed to locate opencode.");
    }

    const result = await runShellCommand(program, ["mcp", "auth", safeServerName], {
      cwd: safeProjectDir,
      env: await buildChildEnv(),
      timeoutMs: 120_000,
    });
    return {
      ok: result.status === 0,
      status: result.status,
      stdout: result.stdout,
      stderr: result.stderr,
    };
  }

  async function sandboxCleanupOpenworkContainers() {
    const candidates = await listOpenworkManagedContainers().catch((error) => {
      throw error;

View on GitHub (pinned to 2b7df46e8a)

Solutions

1. Install the opencode binary and ensure it is on PATH (verify with `which opencode`)
2. If launching from the desktop app, confirm PATH includes the install location or set it via buildChildEnv
3. Rebuild/repackage so the bundled opencode binary ships with the app
4. Check resolveBinary search paths match your install layout

Example fix

// before
// resolveBinary('opencode') returns undefined; error thrown
// after
// ensure the binary exists before invoking the flow
import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process';
const which = execFileSync('which', ['opencode'], { encoding: 'utf8' }).trim();
if (!which) throw new Error('Install opencode first');

import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process';
function opencodeOnPath() {
  try { execFileSync('which', ['opencode']); return true; }
  catch { return false; }
}

try {
  await opencodeMcpAuth(projectDir, serverName);
} catch (e) {
  if (e.message === 'Failed to locate opencode.') {
    showError('Install the opencode CLI, then retry');
  } else throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: `opencode` is not installed, is not on PATH, or the packaged/bundled binary is missing at the location `resolveBinary` searches (dev vs. packaged app layout differences).

Common situations: Running the Electron app on a machine where only the npm package (not the standalone opencode binary) is installed; PATH differences between shell and GUI-launched app on macOS; a broken build/package step that omitted the bundled binary; wrong architecture binary.

Related errors

• OpenWork Computer Use is missing from this OpenWork build.
• project_dir is required
• server_name is required
• invalid_mcp_token_payload
• invalid_mcp_connection_payload

AI-assisted analysis of different-ai/openwork@2b7df46e8a (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/fc2fd2ad138a9cbd. Report an issue: GitHub.