What causes "failed to open %q" in matryer/xbar?

Verify the file exists at filepath.Join(pluginDirectory, path) before calling OpenFile

failed to open %q

Error message

failed to open %q

What it means

OpenFile runs `open` on filepath.Join(pluginDirectory, path) so users can edit a plugin file. Failure of the command (or of opening the resulting path) is wrapped with errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to open %q", path).

Source

Thrown at app/command_service.go:69

		return errors.Wrapf(err, "unable to open path %q", path)
	}
	return nil
}

// OpenURL opens a window.
func (c CommandService) OpenURL(url string) error {
	err := c.runCommand("open", url)
	if err != nil {
		return errors.Wrapf(err, "unable to open URL %s", url)
	}
	return nil
}

// OpenFile opens a file for editing.
func (c CommandService) OpenFile(path string) error {
	err := c.runCommand("open", filepath.Join(pluginDirectory, path))
	if err != nil {
		return errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to open %q", path)
	}
	return nil
}

// runCommand runs the command, wiring up stdout and stderr, and
// inheriting the environment.
func (CommandService) runCommand(name string, args ...string) error {
	cmd := exec.Command(name, args...)
	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
		Setpgid: true,
	}
	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
	return cmd.Run()
}

View on GitHub (pinned to d624239058)

Solutions

Verify the file exists at filepath.Join(pluginDirectory, path) before calling OpenFile
Pass the plugin-relative name exactly as listed in the plugins directory
Check a default application is associated with the file type

Example fix

// before
svc.OpenFile("removed-plugin.5m.py") // file no longer exists
// after
p := filepath.Join(pluginDirectory, name)
if _, err := os.Stat(p); err == nil {
    svc.OpenFile(name)
}

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

// before OpenFile: verify the joined path exists
target := filepath.Join(pluginDirectory, relPath)
if _, err := os.Stat(target); err != nil {
    return fmt.Errorf("plugin file %q not found", relPath)
}

Try / catch

// Go
if err := svc.OpenFile(relPath); err != nil {
    if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "failed to open") {
        return fmt.Errorf("cannot edit plugin %q: %w", relPath, err)
    }
    return err
}

Prevention

Pass plugin-relative paths exactly as they appear in the plugins directory
Refresh the plugin list after installs/uninstalls so menu entries stay valid
Remember OpenFile joins with pluginDirectory — don't pass absolute paths

When it happens

Trigger: Calling CommandService.OpenFile with a plugin-relative path that does not exist under pluginDirectory, or when the `open` command fails to launch the default editor.

Common situations: Plugin was uninstalled/renamed but its menu entry still requests OpenFile; passing an absolute path that gets joined incorrectly onto pluginDirectory; no default application for the file type.

Understand the failure class

Background: "File not found" and ENOENT errors: why libraries can't find a file that should exist — this error's family across 50 libraries.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of matryer/xbar@d624239058 (2026-09-02). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5b01bbd8b2a9fe4b. Report an issue: GitHub.