paperclipai/paperclip · error · Error

The Paperclip database is not running or reachable, so the…

Error message

The Paperclip database is not running or reachable, so the pre-update backup cannot be taken. Start the service with `paperclipai service start` and retry, or skip the backup with `paperclipai update --no-backup`.

What it means

Error "The Paperclip database is not running or reachable, so the pre-update backup cannot be taken. Start the service with `paperclipai service start` and retry, or skip the backup with `paperclipai update --no-backup`." thrown in paperclipai/paperclip.

Solutions

1. Start the service with `paperclipai service start` and retry, or skip the backup with `paperclipai update --no-backup`.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/commands/update.ts:61 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of paperclipai/paperclip@01ad858492 (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ca7fdd93701f7d70. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/commands/update.ts:61

    if (typeof record.code === "string" && DATABASE_UNREACHABLE_CODES.has(record.code)) return true;
    if (typeof record.message === "string" && /\b(?:ECONNREFUSED|EHOSTUNREACH|ENETUNREACH|ETIMEDOUT)\b|connection refused/i.test(record.message)) return true;
    if (record.cause !== undefined) pending.push(record.cause);
    if (Array.isArray(record.errors)) pending.push(...record.errors);
  }
  return false;
}

async function runPreUpdateBackup(options: UpdateOptions, backup: () => Promise<void>, hasInstanceData = hasPaperclipInstanceData): Promise<void> {
  if (!hasInstanceData()) {
    const message = "Skipping the pre-update backup because this Paperclip instance has not been onboarded and has no data to back up.";
    if (options.json) console.error(message); else console.log(pc.yellow(message));
    return;
  }
  try {
    await backup();
  } catch (error) {
    if (isDatabaseUnreachableError(error)) {
      throw new Error(
        "The Paperclip database is not running or reachable, so the pre-update backup cannot be taken. Start the service with `paperclipai service start` and retry, or skip the backup with `paperclipai update --no-backup`.",
        { cause: error },
      );
    }
    throw error;
  }
}

async function restartActiveManagedService(expectedVersion: string): Promise<boolean> {
  const instanceId = resolvePaperclipInstanceId();
  const detection = await detectServiceManager({ instanceId });
  if (!detection.supported || !(await detection.manager.status()).active) return false;
  await restartManagedService({ instanceId, expectedVersion });
  return true;
}

export function detectInstallMode(executablePath = process.argv[1] ?? "", paths = resolveInstallStorePaths()): InstallMode {
  const resolved = path.resolve(executablePath || ".");

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