docker/cli · error

failed to create the container ID file: %w

Error message

failed to create the container ID file: %w

What it means

Error "failed to create the container ID file: %w" thrown in docker/cli.

Source

Thrown at cli/command/container/create.go:207

	}
	if _, err := cid.file.WriteString(id); err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write the container ID (%s) to file: %w", id, err)
	}
	cid.written = true
	return nil
}

func newCIDFile(cidPath string) (*cidFile, error) {
	if cidPath == "" {
		return &cidFile{}, nil
	}
	if _, err := os.Stat(cidPath); err == nil {
		return nil, errors.New("container ID file found, make sure the other container isn't running or delete " + cidPath)
	}

	f, err := os.Create(cidPath)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create the container ID file: %w", err)
	}

	return &cidFile{path: cidPath, file: f}, nil
}

//nolint:gocyclo
func createContainer(ctx context.Context, dockerCLI command.Cli, containerCfg *containerConfig, options *createOptions) (containerID string, _ error) {
	config := containerCfg.Config
	hostConfig := containerCfg.HostConfig
	networkingConfig := containerCfg.NetworkingConfig

	var namedRef reference.Named

	// TODO(thaJeztah): add a platform option-type / flag-type.
	if options.platform != "" {
		if _, err := platforms.Parse(options.platform); err != nil {
			return "", err
		}

View on GitHub (pinned to e9452d6e78)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/command/container/create.go:207 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of docker/cli@e9452d6e78 (2026-08-01). Data as JSON: /data/errors/fe7054328a39f6aa.json. Report an issue: GitHub.