paperclipai/paperclip · error · Error

--ref is only supported for GitHub import sources.

Error message

--ref is only supported for GitHub import sources.

What it means

--ref was supplied while the import source is not GitHub (local path or inline bundle), and ref pinning is only meaningful for GitHub source payloads.

Solutions

1. Drop --ref, or use a GitHub import source if a ref is required.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/commands/client/company.ts:1715 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of paperclipai/paperclip@120ae5428f (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ad6f6e26c6cbc678. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/commands/client/company.ts:1715

          let sourcePayload:
            | { type: "inline"; rootPath?: string | null; files: Record<string, CompanyPortabilityFileEntry> }
            | { type: "github"; url: string };
          let chunkedZip: { zipBytes: Uint8Array; rootPath: string } | null = null;

          const treatAsLocalPath = !isHttpUrl(from) && await pathExists(from);
          const isGithubSource = looksLikeRepoUrl(from) || (isGithubShorthand(from) && !treatAsLocalPath);

          if (isHttpUrl(from) || isGithubSource) {
            if (!looksLikeRepoUrl(from) && !isGithubShorthand(from)) {
              throw new Error(
                "Only GitHub URLs and local paths are supported for import. " +
                "Generic HTTP URLs are not supported. Use a GitHub or GitHub Enterprise URL (https://github.com/... or https://ghe.example.com/...) or a local directory path.",
              );
            }
            sourcePayload = { type: "github", url: normalizeGithubImportSource(from, opts.ref) };
          } else {
            if (opts.ref?.trim()) {
              throw new Error("--ref is only supported for GitHub import sources.");
            }
            chunkedZip = await resolveChunkedImportZip(
              from,
              target === "existing"
                ? EXISTING_COMPANY_CHUNKED_IMPORT_THRESHOLD_BYTES
                : CHUNKED_IMPORT_THRESHOLD_BYTES,
            );
            if (chunkedZip) {
              // Too large for one request: the zip travels as a chunked
              // transfer, so the inline files map is never built or sent.
              sourcePayload = { type: "inline", rootPath: chunkedZip.rootPath, files: {} };
            } else {
              const inline = await resolveInlineSourceFromPath(from);
              sourcePayload = {
                type: "inline",
                rootPath: inline.rootPath,
                files: inline.files,
              };

View on GitHub (pinned to 120ae5428f)