%[1]s: '%[2]s' requires at least %[3]d and at most %[4]d…

Error message

%[1]s: '%[2]s' requires at least %[3]d and at most %[4]d %[5]s

Usage:  %[6]s

Run '%[2]s --help' for more information

What it means

Returned by cli.RequiresRangeArgs (required.go:73) when the argument count falls outside [minArgs, maxArgs]. Used by commands accepting a bounded range of positional arguments (e.g. 1..2). The message states both bounds and the usage line.

Solutions

Count your positional arguments and keep them within the printed [min, max] range.
Run `<cmd> --help` to see the expected positional signature.
Move flags-as-values mistakes into proper `--flag value` form.

Example fix

// before: zero positionals for a RequiresRangeArgs(1,2) command
docker context use

// after: supply the context name
docker context use default

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

// Validate within [min,max] before invoking
n := len(positionalArgs)
if n < minArgs || n > maxArgs {
    return fmt.Errorf("need between %d and %d positional args, got %d", minArgs, maxArgs, n)
}

Prevention

Confirm the allowed range via --help.
Provide explicit defaults for optional positionals.
Check expansion of optional variables in scripts.

When it happens

Trigger: Invoking a command configured with Args: cli.RequiresRangeArgs(min, max) with fewer than min or more than max positional arguments.

Common situations: Supplying zero args, or supplying extra args beyond the allowed range, often due to optional-argument misunderstanding or shell expansion surprises.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of docker/cli@4f84911bfe (2026-08-07). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5a5d23360870c593. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/required.go:73

		}
		return fmt.Errorf(
			"%[1]s: '%[2]s' requires at most %[3]d %[4]s\n\nUsage:  %[5]s\n\nRun '%[2]s --help' for more information",
			binName(cmd),
			cmd.CommandPath(),
			maxArgs,
			pluralize("argument", maxArgs),
			cmd.UseLine(),
		)
	}
}

// RequiresRangeArgs returns an error if there is not at least min args and at most max args
func RequiresRangeArgs(minArgs int, maxArgs int) cobra.PositionalArgs {
	return func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
		if len(args) >= minArgs && len(args) <= maxArgs {
			return nil
		}
		return fmt.Errorf(
			"%[1]s: '%[2]s' requires at least %[3]d and at most %[4]d %[5]s\n\nUsage:  %[6]s\n\nRun '%[2]s --help' for more information",
			binName(cmd),
			cmd.CommandPath(),
			minArgs,
			maxArgs,
			pluralize("argument", maxArgs),
			cmd.UseLine(),
		)
	}
}

// ExactArgs returns an error if there is not the exact number of args
func ExactArgs(number int) cobra.PositionalArgs {
	return func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
		if len(args) == number {
			return nil
		}
		return fmt.Errorf(

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