paperclipai/paperclip · error · Error

Use either --apply or --dry, not both.

Error message

Use either --apply or --dry, not both.

What it means

Mutually-exclusive mode guard in worktree merge-history: --apply (write changes) and --dry (preview only) name opposite execution modes and were both passed, so the command refuses to guess intent.

Solutions

1. Pass either --apply or --dry, not both.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cli/src/commands/worktree.ts:3292 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/9b505fb755b71589. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at cli/src/commands/worktree.ts:4107

    return {
      insertedProjects,
      insertedProjectWorkspaces,
      insertedIssues,
      insertedComments,
      insertedDocuments,
      mergedDocuments,
      insertedDocumentRevisions,
      insertedAttachments,
      skippedMissingAttachmentObjects,
      insertedIssueIdentifiers,
    };
  });
}

export async function worktreeMergeHistoryCommand(sourceArg: string | undefined, opts: WorktreeMergeHistoryOptions): Promise<void> {
  if (opts.apply && opts.dry) {
    throw new Error("Use either --apply or --dry, not both.");
  }

  if (sourceArg && opts.from) {
    throw new Error("Use either the positional source argument or --from, not both.");
  }

  const targetEndpoint = opts.to
    ? resolveWorktreeEndpointFromSelector(opts.to, { allowCurrent: true })
    : resolveCurrentWorktreeEndpoint();
  const sourceEndpoint = opts.from
    ? resolveWorktreeEndpointFromSelector(opts.from, { allowCurrent: true })
    : sourceArg
      ? resolveWorktreeEndpointFromSelector(sourceArg, { allowCurrent: true })
      : await promptForSourceEndpoint(targetEndpoint.rootPath);

  if (path.resolve(sourceEndpoint.configPath) === path.resolve(targetEndpoint.configPath)) {
    throw new Error("Source and target Paperclip configs are the same. Choose different --from/--to worktrees.");
  }

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