github/spec-kit · error · RuntimeError

Cannot safely update hard-linked generated artifact '{origin

Error message

Cannot safely update hard-linked generated artifact '{original_file}'

What it means

Error "Cannot safely update hard-linked generated artifact '{original_file}'" thrown in github/spec-kit.

Source

Thrown at src/specify_cli/extensions/_commands.py:1671

            new_skill_paths_absent_before_update = []
            # Validation failures must not rewrite an untouched installation.
            installation_modified = False
            zip_cleanup_error = None
            backup_created_by_attempt = False

            def backup_command_artifact(original_file, backup_file):
                """Back up one command artifact once, preserving its full path."""
                nonlocal backup_created_by_attempt
                original_key = str(original_file)
                if original_key in backed_up_command_files:
                    return
                if original_file.is_symlink():
                    backed_up_command_symlinks[original_key] = os.readlink(
                        original_file
                    )
                else:
                    if original_file.stat().st_nlink > 1:
                        raise RuntimeError(
                            "Cannot safely update hard-linked generated "
                            f"artifact '{original_file}'"
                        )
                    backup_created_by_attempt = True
                    backup_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
                    shutil.copy2(original_file, backup_file)
                backed_up_command_files[original_key] = str(backup_file)

            def restore_command_artifact(original_path, backup_path):
                """Restore one regular file or symlink without following it."""
                original_key = str(original_path)
                original_file = Path(original_path)
                backup_file = Path(backup_path)
                symlink_state = backed_up_command_symlinks.get(
                    original_key
                )

                if symlink_state is not None:

View on GitHub (pinned to bf88c9f9a8)

Solutions

1. Replace the hard-linked generated artifact with a regular file, then retry the update.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at src/specify_cli/extensions/_commands.py:1671 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of github/spec-kit@bf88c9f9a8 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5cad3376defa3ff6. Report an issue: GitHub.