sds/overcommit · error · Overcommit::Exceptions::InvalidCommandArgs

Command `# ...` is longer than the maximum number of bytes…

Error message

Command `#{args.take(5).join(' ')} ...` is longer than the maximum number of bytes allowed by the operating system (#{max_command_length})

What it means

Error "Command `#{args.take(5).join(' ')} ...` is longer than the maximum number of bytes allowed by the operating system (#{max_command_length})" thrown in sds/overcommit.

Solutions

1. Shorten the fixed command prefix (executable plus flags) so its total byte size stays under the OS command-length limit (2048 bytes on Windows, half of `getconf ARG_MAX` elsewhere).
2. Move long option values into a config file or environment variables instead of passing them on the command line.
3. Reduce the number of prefix arguments passed to the hook command.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/overcommit/command_splitter.rb:85 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of sds/overcommit@fee0cd74b2 (2026-08-23). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4be52d689b0ce0cf. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at lib/overcommit/command_splitter.rb:85

        results = extract_argument_lists(initial_args, splittable_args).map do |arg_list|
          Overcommit::Subprocess.spawn(arg_list, options)
        end

        Result.new(results.map(&:status), results.map(&:stdout), results.map(&:stderr))
      end

      private

      # Given a list of prefix arguments and suffix arguments that can be split,
      # returns a list of argument lists that are executable on the current OS
      # without exceeding command line limitations.
      def extract_argument_lists(args, splittable_args)
        # Total number of bytes needed to contain the prefix command
        # (including byte separators between each argument)
        prefix_bytes = (args.size - 1) + args.reduce(0) { |sum, arg| sum + arg.bytesize }

        if prefix_bytes >= max_command_length
          raise Overcommit::Exceptions::InvalidCommandArgs,
                "Command `#{args.take(5).join(' ')} ...` is longer than the " \
                'maximum number of bytes allowed by the operating system ' \
                "(#{max_command_length})"
        end

        arg_lists = []
        index = 0
        while index <= splittable_args.length - 1
          arg_list, index = arguments_under_limit(splittable_args,
                                                  index,
                                                  max_command_length - prefix_bytes)
          arg_lists << args + arg_list
        end

        arg_lists
      end

      # @return [Array<Array<String>, Integer>] tuple of arguments and new index

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