jackwener/OpenCLI · error · TimeoutError

Current status=${latestActivity?.Status ?? ''}, approvalPend

Error message

Current status=${latestActivity?.Status ?? ''}, approvalPending=${latestActivity?.ApprovalPending ?? ''}, approvalKind=${latestActivity?.ApprovalKind ?? ''}, approvalButton=${latestActivity?.ApprovalButton ?? ''}. Use "opencli trae-cn targets -f json" to find the waiting target, then run "OPENCLI_CDP_TARGET=<target> opencli trae-cn watch --stream true --duration 300" or "opencli trae-cn approve".

What it means

ask.js throws a TimeoutError when the Trae CN activity stream is still showing a blocking activity (an approval prompt or waiting state) when the timeout elapses. The message embeds the latest activity's Status/ApprovalPending/ApprovalKind/ApprovalButton fields and tells the operator how to find and approve the waiting target via CDP. It exists so an agent stuck on a permission dialog is distinguishable from one still generating.

Source

Thrown at clis/trae-cn/ask.js:89

        lastText = text;
        stableSince = Date.now();
        continue;
      }
      const stableFor = Date.now() - stableSince;
      const blocked = isLikelyBlockingActivity(latestActivity);
      const completed = isActivityComplete(latestActivity);
      if (completed && !blocked && stableFor >= 1000) {
        return [latest];
      }
      if (!blocked && stableFor >= 3000) {
        return [latest];
      }
    }

    if (latest?.Text) {
      const blocked = isLikelyBlockingActivity(latestActivity);
      if (blocked) {
        throw new TimeoutError(
          'trae-cn ask',
          timeout,
          `Current status=${latestActivity?.Status ?? ''}, approvalPending=${latestActivity?.ApprovalPending ?? ''}, approvalKind=${latestActivity?.ApprovalKind ?? ''}, approvalButton=${latestActivity?.ApprovalButton ?? ''}. Use "opencli trae-cn targets -f json" to find the waiting target, then run "OPENCLI_CDP_TARGET=<target> opencli trae-cn watch --stream true --duration 300" or "opencli trae-cn approve".`,
        );
      }
      return [latest];
    }
    throw new TimeoutError('trae-cn ask', timeout, 'No Trae CN response was visible before the timeout. The agent may still be generating.');
  },
});

View on GitHub (pinned to 49907e53dc)

Solutions

Run `opencli trae-cn targets -f json` to find the waiting target, then `OPENCLI_CDP_TARGET=<target> opencli trae-cn approve` to accept the pending prompt.
Alternatively attach with `OPENCLI_CDP_TARGET=<target> opencli trae-cn watch --stream true --duration 300` to observe and interact.
Re-run ask with a larger --timeout if the approval just needs more time.
Ensure no stale approval dialogs are open before issuing ask.

Example fix

// before
opencli trae-cn ask "do the task" --timeout 30
// after
opencli trae-cn targets -f json   # find waiting target
OPENCLI_CDP_TARGET=<target> opencli trae-cn approve
opencli trae-cn ask "do the task" --timeout 120

Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Validate before calling

// Before running ask, check for an already-waiting target
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
const targets = JSON.parse(execSync('opencli trae-cn targets -f json', 'utf8'));
const waiting = targets.filter(t => t.activity && /approve|pending|waiting/i.test(JSON.stringify(t.activity)));
if (waiting.length) console.warn('Resolve pending approval first:', waiting.map(t => t.target));

Type guard

function isBlockingActivity(a) {
  return Boolean(a && typeof a === 'object' &&
    (a.ApprovalPending === true || a.ApprovalButton || /wait|approve/i.test(String(a.Status ?? ''))));
}

Try / catch

try {
  await runAsk(timeout);
} catch (e) {
  if (e instanceof TimeoutError && /approvalPending=true/i.test(e.message)) {
    const target = findWaitingTarget(); // opencli trae-cn targets -f json
    execSync(`OPENCLI_CDP_TARGET=${target} opencli trae-cn approve`);
    return runAsk(timeout); // retry once after approving
  }
  throw e;
}

Prevention

Clear any pending approval dialogs before launching ask.
Use a generous --timeout when running unattended.
Monitor with `opencli trae-cn watch --stream true` to spot approvals early.
Automate approve via targets -f json polling.

When it happens

Trigger: Calling `opencli trae-cn ask` when the Trae CN agent has raised an approval prompt (isLikelyBlockingActivity(latestActivity) returns true) and the user does not approve within the --timeout period. Also when a previous approval dialog is left open from an earlier run.

Common situations: Running the CLI unattended while Trae CN waits on a tool-approval dialog; long approval buttons with a short --timeout; leftover pending dialogs from a prior session blocking the new ask.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of jackwener/OpenCLI@49907e53dc (2026-08-29). Data as JSON: /api/errors/c49d8550eb3a8bdb. Report an issue: GitHub.