pbakaus/impeccable · error · TargetArgError

TARGET_VALUE_MISSING

TARGET_VALUE_MISSING

Error message

--target requires a path value.

What it means

Thrown by parseTargetPath in strict mode when --target/-t is followed by no value, or by another dash-prefixed token, or when --target= has an empty value. It is a TargetArgError carrying code TARGET_VALUE_MISSING (and name 'TargetArgError') so callers can distinguish it programmatically. In non-strict mode the same input is skipped silently and null is returned.

Solutions

1. Give --target a value: `--target src/pages/index.astro`.
2. Use the attached form `--target=src/pages/index.astro`, which cannot be separated from its value.
3. Note that a value beginning with '-' (rare relative path) will be treated as a flag; prefix it as ./-weird or use the = form.
4. If invoking parseTargetPath programmatically in strict mode, catch TargetArgError and check err.code === 'TARGET_VALUE_MISSING'.

Example fix

# before
node script.mjs --scope page --target

# after
node script.mjs --scope page --target src/pages/index.astro
node script.mjs --scope page --target=src/pages/index.astro

function hasTargetValue(args) {
  for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
    const a = String(args[i]);
    if ((a === '--target' || a === '-t') && !(args[i + 1] && !String(args[i + 1]).startsWith('-'))) return false;
    if (a.startsWith('--target=') && !a.slice('--target='.length)) return false;
  }
  return true;
}
if (!hasTargetValue(argv)) { console.error('--target needs a value'); process.exit(2); }

class TargetArgError extends Error {}
function isTargetValueMissing(err) {
  return err instanceof TargetArgError && err.code === 'TARGET_VALUE_MISSING';
}

import { parseTargetPath } from './lib/target-args.mjs';
try {
  const targetPath = parseTargetPath(argv, { strict: true });
} catch (err) {
  if (err.name === 'TargetArgError' && err.code === 'TARGET_VALUE_MISSING') {
    console.error('usage: --target <path>  (or --target=<path>)');
    process.exit(2);
  }
  throw err;
}

When it happens

Trigger: `--target` as the last argument; `--target --mode local` (next token starts with '-', treated as a flag not a value); `--target=` with nothing after the equals; non-strict callers getting null and then failing downstream with a less specific error.

Common situations: Scripts building command lines from optional variables that are empty; flag reordering that puts a value-taking flag adjacent to another flag; users assuming --target defaults to the current directory.

Related errors

• requires a glob
• Aborted.
• ambiguous snapshot slug; use an explicit ./path or remove…
• Authentication failed. The server token may have changed.
• Available commands

AI-assisted analysis of pbakaus/impeccable@f88b2837a7 (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/840e80570b9c6c15. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at skill/scripts/lib/target-args.mjs:21

    super(message);
    this.name = 'TargetArgError';
    this.code = code;
  }
}

export function parseTargetPath(args = [], { strict = false } = {}) {
  let targetPath = null;
  for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
    const arg = String(args[i]);
    if (arg === '--target' || arg === '-t') {
      const next = args[i + 1];
      if (next && !String(next).startsWith('-')) {
        targetPath = String(next);
        i++;
        continue;
      }
      if (strict) {
        throw new TargetArgError('--target requires a path value.', 'TARGET_VALUE_MISSING');
      }
      continue;
    }
    if (arg.startsWith('--target=')) {
      const value = arg.slice('--target='.length);
      if (value) {
        targetPath = value;
        continue;
      }
      if (strict) {
        throw new TargetArgError('--target requires a path value.', 'TARGET_VALUE_MISSING');
      }
    }
  }
  return targetPath;
}

export function parseTargetOptions(args = [], options = {}) {

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