github/spec-kit · error · OSError

Failed to stage prior workflow ({move_exc}); failed to resto

Error message

Failed to stage prior workflow ({move_exc}); failed to restore it from {backup_file} ({restore_exc}). The prior workflow remains at {backup_file}.

What it means

Error "Failed to stage prior workflow ({move_exc}); failed to restore it from {backup_file} ({restore_exc}). The prior workflow remains at {backup_file}." thrown in github/spec-kit.

Source

Thrown at src/specify_cli/workflows/_commands.py:776

        finally:
            os.close(fd)
        backup_file = Path(backup_name)
        try:
            os.replace(dest_file, backup_file)
        except BaseException as move_exc:
            backup_state = None
            try:
                backup_state = backup_file.stat(follow_symlinks=False)
            except OSError:
                pass
            if (
                backup_state is not None
                and os.path.samestat(dest_state, backup_state)
            ):
                try:
                    os.replace(backup_file, dest_file)
                except OSError as restore_exc:
                    raise OSError(
                        f"Failed to stage prior workflow ({move_exc}); failed "
                        f"to restore it from {backup_file} ({restore_exc}). "
                        f"The prior workflow remains at {backup_file}."
                    ) from restore_exc
            elif (
                backup_state is not None
                and os.path.samestat(placeholder_state, backup_state)
            ):
                try:
                    backup_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
                except OSError:
                    pass
            raise
        try:
            if isinstance(staged_file, _StagedWorkflowFile):
                staged_file.verify_path()
                # Windows cannot replace an open file. Verify through the
                # exclusive descriptor, then close immediately before rename.

View on GitHub (pinned to bf88c9f9a8)

Solutions

1. Manually restore the prior workflow from the reported backup file, then retry the operation.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at src/specify_cli/workflows/_commands.py:776 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/883ac74a0578fd1b. Report an issue: GitHub.