hasura/graphql-engine · error

error in getting output directory input: %w

Error message

error in getting output directory input: %w

What it means

Thrown when util.GetFSPathPrompt fails while interactively asking where to place codegen files (shown because --output-dir was omitted). Same TTY-dependent prompt failure family: it cannot read an answer from non-interactive stdin.

Source

Thrown at cli/commands/actions_use_codegen.go:232

			destinationDir,
		)
		if err != nil {
			return errors.E(op, fmt.Errorf("error in copying starter kit: %w", err))
		}

		o.EC.Logger.Info("Starter kit cloned at " + destinationDir)
	}

	o.EC.Spinner.Stop()

	// if output directory is not provided, make them enter it
	if o.outputDir == "" {
		outputDir, err := util.GetFSPathPrompt(
			"Where do you want to place the codegen files?",
			o.EC.Config.ActionConfig.Codegen.OutputDir,
		)
		if err != nil {
			return errors.E(op, fmt.Errorf("error in getting output directory input: %w", err))
		}

		newCodegenExecutionConfig.OutputDir = outputDir
	} else {
		newCodegenExecutionConfig.OutputDir = o.outputDir
	}

	newConfig := o.EC.Config
	newConfig.ActionConfig.Codegen = newCodegenExecutionConfig

	err = o.EC.WriteConfig(newConfig)
	if err != nil {
		return errors.E(op, fmt.Errorf("error in writing config: %w", err))
	}

	o.EC.Spinner.Stop()
	o.EC.Logger.Info("Codegen configuration updated in config.yaml")

View on GitHub (pinned to 724551b9ae)

Solutions

1. Pass --output-dir <path> explicitly in all scripted runs.
2. Run with an interactive TTY when you want to be prompted.

Example fix

// before (CI)
hasura actions use-codegen --framework nodejs-express --with-starter-kit
// after
hasura actions use-codegen --framework nodejs-express --with-starter-kit --output-dir src/generated

[ -t 0 ] || echo 'pass --output-dir explicitly in non-interactive shells'

Catch prompt errors and re-run with an explicit --output-dir.

When it happens

Trigger: Running `hasura actions use-codegen` without --output-dir in a non-interactive environment (CI, piped stdin, no TTY).

Common situations: Scripted/automated CLI runs missing the output-dir flag; docker/ssh sessions without terminal allocation.

Related errors

• error in getting user input: %w
• error in selecting framework: %w
• error in getting input from user: %w
• error in selecting a database to use: %w
• unable to get available databases: %w

AI-assisted analysis of hasura/graphql-engine@724551b9ae (2026-08-28). Data as JSON: /api/errors/38388399305c1693. Report an issue: GitHub.