: source uses the download strategy, which mise cannot…

Error message

{}: source uses the {using:?} download strategy, which mise cannot build from (and no bottle exists for this machine)

What it means

The formula declares a non-standard `using:` download strategy (e.g. :git, :homebrew_curl, :special). mise can only build from plain URL/checksum archives, and since no bottle exists for this machine it falls back to source — which it refuses early with this message.

Solutions

Install on a platform/OS where a bottle exists so source build is not attempted
Use a different mise backend that can handle the tool (github:, cargo:, etc.)
Install the formula with brew directly and point mise at the brew-provided version
Ask upstream to provide a normal URL-based stable spec or open a mise issue to support that strategy

Example fix

# before
mise use brew:some-git-strategy-formula
# after
mise use github:some-org/some-tool

Defensive patterns

Strategy: fallback

Validate before calling

curl -s https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula/<name>.json | jq -r '.urls.stable.using' # non-null means special strategy

Try / catch

catch the 'download strategy' message => pick an alternate backend (github:, cargo:) or a brew version with bottles

Prevention

Inspect `.urls.stable.using` in the API before choosing brew: for a tool
Maintain fallback backend entries in mise config
Keep to mainstream formulas/versions with standard curl-based sources
Test installs on your actual target platform (linux/arm64 etc.) early

When it happens

Trigger: `check_buildable` sees `src.using` set on the stable source while no bottle is available for the host tag, so `build` bails naming the strategy.

Common situations: Niche formulas that fetch via git or special strategies; installing on uncommon platforms (linux, new macOS/ARM combos) where those formulas lack bottles; formula recently switched download strategy upstream.

Understand the failure class

Background: UnsupportedOperationException and "is not supported" errors: when a library deliberately refuses a call — this error's family across 30 libraries.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of jdx/mise@533346cc37 (2026-09-17). Data as JSON: /api/errors/fc352760974bb67e. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/system/packages/brew/source.rs:68

pub(super) fn missing_bottle_reason(formula: &Formula) -> String {
    match formula.bottle_files() {
        Some(files) if !files.is_empty() => {
            let mut tags: Vec<String> = files.keys().cloned().collect();
            tags.sort();
            format!("bottles exist only for: {}", tags.join(", "))
        }
        _ => "source-only formula, no bottles".to_string(),
    }
}

/// Reject early what the source builder cannot handle, with the reason —
/// checked before any work happens so dry-run and real runs fail alike.
pub(super) fn check_buildable(formula: &Formula) -> Result<()> {
    let Some(src) = formula.stable_url() else {
        bail!("{}: formula has no stable source URL", formula.name);
    };
    if let Some(using) = &src.using {
        bail!(
            "{}: source uses the {using:?} download strategy, which mise cannot build from \
             (and no bottle exists for this machine)",
            formula.name,
        );
    }
    if src.checksum.is_none() {
        bail!("{}: source archive has no sha256 in the API", formula.name);
    }
    // the formula .rb must be pinned to the API snapshot's commit and
    // verifiable — evaluating a newer/unverified formula against older
    // source metadata would build the wrong thing
    if formula.ruby_source_path.is_none() {
        bail!("{}: API metadata has no ruby_source_path", formula.name);
    }
    if formula.tap_git_head.is_none() {
        bail!("{}: API metadata has no tap_git_head", formula.name);
    }
    if formula

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