paperclipai/paperclip · error · Error

Source config not found at ${source.configPath}.

Error message

Source config not found at ${source.configPath}.

What it means

Thrown by runWorktreeReseed when existsSync(source.configPath) is false, checked BEFORE attempting readConfig. The source path comes from resolveWorktreeReseedSource, which resolves --from (worktree selector), --from-config (literal path), or --from-data-dir + --from-instance (~/.paperclip/instances/<id>/config.json). This is an early, clear 'file does not exist' guard distinct from the readConfig-based check at 3422.

Source

Thrown at cli/src/commands/worktree.ts:3413

  }
}

async function runWorktreeReseed(opts: WorktreeReseedOptions): Promise<void> {
  const seedMode = opts.seedMode ?? "full";
  if (!isWorktreeSeedMode(seedMode)) {
    throw new Error(`Unsupported seed mode "${seedMode}". Expected one of: minimal, full.`);
  }

  const targetEndpoint = opts.to
    ? resolveWorktreeEndpointFromSelector(opts.to, { allowCurrent: true })
    : resolveCurrentWorktreeEndpoint();
  const source = resolveWorktreeReseedSource(opts);

  if (path.resolve(source.configPath) === path.resolve(targetEndpoint.configPath)) {
    throw new Error("Source and target Paperclip configs are the same. Choose different --from/--to values.");
  }
  if (!existsSync(source.configPath)) {
    throw new Error(`Source config not found at ${source.configPath}.`);
  }

  const targetConfig = readConfig(targetEndpoint.configPath);
  if (!targetConfig) {
    throw new Error(`Target config not found at ${targetEndpoint.configPath}.`);
  }
  const sourceConfig = readConfig(source.configPath);
  if (!sourceConfig) {
    throw new Error(`Source config not found at ${source.configPath}.`);
  }

  const targetPaths = resolveWorktreeReseedTargetPaths({
    configPath: targetEndpoint.configPath,
    rootPath: targetEndpoint.rootPath,
  });
  const runningTargetPid = resolveRunningEmbeddedPostgresPid(targetConfig);
  if (runningTargetPid && !opts.allowLiveTarget) {
    throw new Error(

View on GitHub (pinned to 67001ec6eb)

Solutions

1. Verify the path with `ls <source.configPath>`; fix the typo or use an absolute path.
2. If deriving from instance id, run `paperclipai worktree init` or the primary instance setup first so ~/.paperclip/instances/<id>/config.json exists.
3. Use --from <worktree-selector> pointing at a worktree that has already been initialized.

Example fix

// before
paperclipai worktree reseed --from-config ~/wrong.json --to current
// after
paperclipai worktree reseed --from-config ~/.paperclip/instances/default/config.json --to current

import fs from "node:fs";

function ensureSourceConfigExists(sourceConfigPath: string): void {
  if (!fs.existsSync(sourceConfigPath)) {
    throw new Error(`Source config not found at ${sourceConfigPath}.`);
  }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling reseed with --from-config /path/that/does/not/exist, or --from-instance <id> where ~/.paperclip/instances/<id>/config.json was never created, or --from <worktree> whose .paperclip/config.json is missing.

Common situations: A typo in the --from-config path. Or pointing at an instance id that was cleaned up. Or a fresh machine where ~/.paperclip has no 'default' instance yet.

Related errors

• Target config not found at ${targetEndpoint.configPath}.
• Target config ${input.configPath} does not look like a workt
• Source and target Paperclip configs are the same. Pass --fro
• Cannot seed worktree database because source config was not
• Source and target Paperclip configs are the same. Choose dif

AI-assisted analysis of paperclipai/paperclip@67001ec6eb (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f067251faf886158. Report an issue: GitHub.