paperclipai/paperclip · critical

Paperclip server entrypoint did not export startServer(): ${

Error message

Paperclip server entrypoint did not export startServer(): ${label}

What it means

Thrown by startServerFromModule() when the imported server module does not expose a `startServer` function. The entrypoint resolved and imported but its public API is incompatible — most likely a version mismatch between the CLI and the server package.

Source

Thrown at cli/src/commands/run.ts:224

          `Tried: ${devEntry}, @paperclipai/server\n` +
          `${formatError(err)}`,
      );
    }
    throw new Error(
      `Paperclip server failed to start.\n` +
        `${formatError(err)}`,
    );
  }
}

function shouldGenerateBootstrapInviteAfterStart(config: PaperclipConfig): boolean {
  return config.server.deploymentMode === "authenticated" && config.database.mode === "embedded-postgres";
}

async function startServerFromModule(mod: unknown, label: string): Promise<StartedServer> {
  const startServer = (mod as { startServer?: () => Promise<StartedServer> }).startServer;
  if (typeof startServer !== "function") {
    throw new Error(`Paperclip server entrypoint did not export startServer(): ${label}`);
  }
  return await startServer();
}

View on GitHub (pinned to 67001ec6eb)

Solutions

1. Align versions: ensure the installed `@paperclipai/server` matches the CLI's expected version (check package.json / lockfile).
2. Reinstall both packages together from a clean lockfile.
3. If developing in the monorepo, rebuild the server package: `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server build`.
4. Confirm no local file is shadowing the package via NODE_PATH/paths or a stray `node_modules/@paperclipai/server`.

Example fix

// before: stale server export
mod.startServer // undefined
// after: rebuild/align server
pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server build
pnpm install

function hasStartServer(mod: unknown): mod is { startServer: () => Promise<unknown> } {
  return typeof (mod as any)?.startServer === 'function';
}
if (!hasStartServer(mod)) throw new Error(`Incompatible server module: ${label}`);

function isServerModule(mod: unknown): mod is { startServer: () => Promise<unknown> } {
  return mod !== null && typeof mod === 'object' && typeof (mod as { startServer?: unknown }).startServer === 'function';
}

When it happens

Trigger: The dev `server/src/index.ts` or `@paperclipai/server` imported successfully but `(mod as {startServer?}).startServer` is undefined or not a function. Common when the server package version predates the startServer export, or a custom/aliased module is loaded that lacks the export.

Common situations: CLI and server package versions are out of sync (e.g. newer CLI, older globally installed server); a local file shadows @paperclipai/server; a corrupted/partial build of the server left out the entry export.

Related errors

• Could not locate a Paperclip server entrypoint.\nTried: ${de
• Paperclip server failed to start.\n${formatError(err)}
• Invalid --include value. Use one or more of: company,agents,
• Import transfer declaration returned no data.
• Export request returned no data

AI-assisted analysis of paperclipai/paperclip@67001ec6eb (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ea6c2dc6f14e7a62. Report an issue: GitHub.