microsoft/semantic-kernel · error · InvalidDataException

Request failed

Error message

Request failed: {nameof(GetRepositoryAsync)}

What it means

An InvalidDataException thrown by GetRepositoryAsync when the /repos/{org}/{repo} response deserializes to a null GitHubModels.Repo. Indicates the JSON shape did not map to the expected Repo object.

Solutions

1. Verify organization and repo names are correct and accessible with the configured token.
2. Inspect the raw response to distinguish a 404 error body from a real Repo payload.
3. Ensure MakeRequestAsync surfaces non-2xx status as exceptions rather than passing error JSON to the deserializer.

Example fix

// before
return response.Deserialize<GitHubModels.Repo>() ?? throw new InvalidDataException($"Request failed: {nameof(GetRepositoryAsync)}");
// after - guard against 404 error JSON shapes
var repo = response.Deserialize<GitHubModels.Repo>();
if (repo is null) throw new InvalidDataException($"{nameof(GetRepositoryAsync)}: '{organization}/{repo}' not found or unexpected body.");
return repo;

if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(organization) || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(repo))
    throw new ArgumentException("Organization and repo are required.");
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(settings.Token)) throw new InvalidOperationException("GitHub token is not configured.");

try { return await plugin.GetRepositoryAsync(org, repo); }
catch (InvalidDataException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains(nameof(GitHubPlugin.GetRepositoryAsync))) { /* verify org/repo names and token access */ }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling GetRepositoryAsync(org, repo) where the repos endpoint returns a body that yields null on deserialization (404 JSON error object, empty body, schema mismatch).

Common situations: Wrong organization/repo name (GitHub returns a JSON error, not a Repo); token without repo access; API/schema drift.

Related errors

• Request failed
• Request failed
• Request failed
• A client error occurred while getting search results.
• A client error occurred while getting search results.

AI-assisted analysis of microsoft/semantic-kernel@c028a0c7dc (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f793378fa0e43e53. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at dotnet/samples/LearnResources/Plugins/GitHub/GitHubPlugin.cs:32

}

internal sealed class GitHubPlugin(GitHubSettings settings)
{
    [KernelFunction]
    public async Task<GitHubModels.User> GetUserProfileAsync()
    {
        using HttpClient client = this.CreateClient();
        JsonDocument response = await MakeRequestAsync(client, "/user");
        return response.Deserialize<GitHubModels.User>() ?? throw new InvalidDataException($"Request failed: {nameof(GetUserProfileAsync)}");
    }

    [KernelFunction]
    public async Task<GitHubModels.Repo> GetRepositoryAsync(string organization, string repo)
    {
        using HttpClient client = this.CreateClient();
        JsonDocument response = await MakeRequestAsync(client, $"/repos/{organization}/{repo}");

        return response.Deserialize<GitHubModels.Repo>() ?? throw new InvalidDataException($"Request failed: {nameof(GetRepositoryAsync)}");
    }

    [KernelFunction]
    public async Task<GitHubModels.Issue[]> GetIssuesAsync(
        string organization,
        string repo,
        [Description("default count is 30")]
        int? maxResults = null,
        [Description("open, closed, or all")]
        string state = "",
        string label = "",
        string assignee = "")
    {
        using HttpClient client = this.CreateClient();

        string path = $"/repos/{organization}/{repo}/issues?";
        path = BuildQuery(path, "state", state);
        path = BuildQuery(path, "assignee", assignee);

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