gitbutlerapp/gitbutler · error

Could not resolve application path for

Error message

Could not resolve application path for '{bundle_identifier}'

What it means

This error is thrown by the macOS application-lookup helper `find_app_directory` when a bundle URL obtained from the system (e.g. via Spotlight/LaunchServices for a bundle identifier) cannot be converted into a filesystem path via `Url::to_file_path()`. It means the OS reported an application for the bundle identifier but its URL is not a valid `file://` path the library can use to launch it.

Solutions

1. Re-register the application with LaunchServices (e.g. `lsregister -f /Applications/App.app`)
2. Reinstall the application the bundle identifier points to
3. Verify the app exists locally at /Applications and is not a cloud/placeholder item
4. Check for an alternative lookup path (PATH-based binary resolution) instead of bundle lookup

// before calling: confirm the app bundle exists locally
let exists = std::path::Path::new("/Applications/YourApp.app").exists();

// match on the error and fall back to PATH lookup
match resolve_cli_wrapper_abspath(id) {
    Ok(path) => path,
    Err(e) if e.to_string().contains("Could not resolve application path") => fallback_to_path_lookup(),
    Err(e) => return Err(e),
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling `resolve_cli_wrapper_abspath` (which calls `find_app_directory`) on macOS when the system returns an app URL that is not a local file path — e.g. a remote or non-file URL, or a URL with a host component.

Common situations: Corrupt or unusual app registration in LaunchServices; the 'app' is actually a network volume or cloud placeholder; running in a sandboxed/containerized environment where app bundles resolve oddly; stale Spotlight metadata.

Understand the failure class

Background: "File not found" and ENOENT errors: why libraries can't find a file that should exist — this error's family across 50 libraries.

Related errors

• Failed to create symlink
• Failed to get app bundle name
• Failed to move new installation into place - restoring…
• A 'but' binary already exists at
• BUG: we do not create or work with symlinks

AI-assisted analysis of gitbutlerapp/gitbutler@58e5313667 (2026-09-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/267d6a2484d40a7f. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at crates/but-api/src/open/program.rs:615

    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
    fn find_app_directory(&self) -> anyhow::Result<PathBuf> {
        use objc2_app_kit::NSWorkspace;
        use objc2_foundation::NSString;

        let workspace = NSWorkspace::sharedWorkspace();
        let bundle_identifier = NSString::from_str(&self.bundle_identifier);
        let app_url = workspace
            .URLForApplicationWithBundleIdentifier(&bundle_identifier)
            .ok_or_else(|| {
                anyhow::anyhow!(
                    "Could not find application for '{}'",
                    self.bundle_identifier
                )
            })?;

        app_url.to_file_path().ok_or_else(|| {
            anyhow::anyhow!(
                "Could not resolve application path for '{}'",
                self.bundle_identifier
            )
        })
    }
}

#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
fn open_in_macos_application(
    app: &MacosApplication,
    cli_arg_supplier: &CliArgumentSupplier,
    open_spec: OpenSpec,
) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    match open_spec {
        OpenSpec::FileAtLine(path, line_nr) => match app.resolve_cli_wrapper_abspath() {
            Ok(cli_abspath) => {
                let mut cmd = Command::new(cli_abspath);
                cli_arg_supplier.open_at_line(&mut cmd, &path, line_nr);

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