git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager · error · ArgumentOutOfRangeException

Argument must be negative or zero (non-positive).

Error message

Argument must be negative or zero (non-positive).

What it means

This ArgumentOutOfRangeException is thrown by EnsureArgument.NegativeOrZero when an int argument is positive. The parameter is expected to be non-positive (<= 0), which is uncommon and typically used for offsets, decrements, or temperature-like scales where only zero or negative values are meaningful.

Solutions

1. Verify the sign convention of the API you are calling and negate the value if needed
2. Fix the computation producing a positive value (e.g., use Math.Min(0, value) or correct operand order)
3. Check config sign conventions and document them
4. Review recent changes that may have flipped a subtraction

Example fix

// before
EnsureArgument.NegativeOrZero(offset, nameof(offset)); // offset = 5
// after
var adjustedOffset = -Math.Abs(offset);
EnsureArgument.NegativeOrZero(adjustedOffset, nameof(adjustedOffset));

if (value > 0) value = -value; // enforce sign convention
EnsureArgument.NegativeOrZero(value, nameof(value));

static bool IsNonPositive(int v) => v <= 0;

try { EnsureArgument.NegativeOrZero(offset, nameof(offset)); }
catch (ArgumentOutOfRangeException ex)
{
    throw new InvalidOperationException($"{ex.ParamName} must be <= 0, was {offset}; check sign convention", ex);
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling EnsureArgument.NegativeOrZero(arg, name) with arg > 0, e.g., sign-flipped math, subtracting in the wrong direction, or passing a magnitude where a negative offset was required.

Common situations: Sign errors when computing offsets or adjustments; passing a positive step to an API expecting a backward decrement; a config value that should be negative (e.g., timezone offset west) entered as positive.

Related errors

• Argument must be positive or zero (non-negative).
• Argument must be positive.
• Argument must be negative.
• Must specify at least one AuthenticationModes
• Argument cannot be empty or white space.

AI-assisted analysis of git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager@e8ce762cd0 (2026-09-11). Data as JSON: /api/errors/35e319335fd75b8d. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Core/EnsureArgument.cs:65

            if (arg < 0)
            {
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(name, "Argument must be positive or zero (non-negative).");
            }
        }

        public static void Positive(int arg, string name)
        {
            if (arg <= 0)
            {
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(name, "Argument must be positive.");
            }
        }

        public static void NegativeOrZero(int arg, string name)
        {
            if (arg > 0)
            {
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(name, "Argument must be negative or zero (non-positive).");
            }
        }

        public static void Negative(int arg, string name)
        {
            if (arg >= 0)
            {
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(name, "Argument must be negative.");
            }
        }

        public static void InRange(int arg, string name, int lower, int upper, bool lowerInclusive = true, bool upperInclusive = true)
        {
            if (lowerInclusive && arg < lower)
            {
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(name, $"Argument must be greater than or equal to {lower}.");
            }

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