siyuan-note/siyuan · error · errObsidianVaultUnreadable

%w: read Vault root: %v

Error message

%w: read Vault root: %v

What it means

validateObsidianVaultRoot wraps errObsidianVaultUnreadable: reading/stat-ing the Vault root directory failed after path normalization (permissions, not a directory, or a broken symlink). The underlying os error is included in the message.

Source

Thrown at kernel/model/import_obsidian.go:568

	ret.Analysis.UnreferencedFileCount = len(ret.ImportAssets) - len(ret.ReferencedAssets)
	if ret.Analysis.UnreferencedFileCount < 0 {
		ret.Analysis.UnreferencedFileCount = 0
	}
	progress(100, "Analysis completed")
	return ret, nil
}

func validateObsidianVaultRoot(localPath string) (string, error) {
	if strings.TrimSpace(localPath) == "" {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: path is empty", errObsidianVaultUnreadable)
	}
	abs, err := filepath.Abs(filepath.Clean(localPath))
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: normalize Vault path: %v", errObsidianVaultUnreadable, err)
	}
	info, err := os.Lstat(abs)
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: read Vault root: %v", errObsidianVaultUnreadable, err)
	}
	if !info.IsDir() {
		return "", errObsidianVaultNotDirectory
	}
	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 || isObsidianResolvedLink(abs) {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: Vault root is a symbolic link or reparse point", errObsidianVaultUnsafePath)
	}
	if util.IsSensitivePath(abs) {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: selected Vault path is sensitive", errObsidianVaultUnsafePath)
	}
	workspace, _ := filepath.Abs(filepath.Clean(util.WorkspaceDir))
	if sameObsidianPath(abs, workspace) || gulu.File.IsSubPath(workspace, abs) || gulu.File.IsSubPath(abs, workspace) {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: Vault root and SiYuan workspace contain each other", errObsidianVaultUnsafePath)
	}
	configPath := filepath.Join(abs, ".obsidian")
	configInfo, statErr := os.Lstat(configPath)
	if statErr != nil {
		if os.IsNotExist(statErr) {

View on GitHub (pinned to 8641553a1f)

Solutions

1. Confirm the path exists (ls/stat it) and correct the vault path if moved or renamed
2. Reconnect the drive or network share hosting the vault
3. Grant the SiYuan kernel disk-access permission if OS privacy protection blocks the path
4. Re-run the analysis once the path is reachable

Example fix

// before
analyzeObsidianVault("/Volumes/USB/vault") // drive unplugged
// after
if _, err := os.Stat(vaultPath); err != nil {
    return errors.New("vault path unreachable: " + err.Error())
}
analyzeObsidianVault(vaultPath)

if _, err := os.Stat(vaultPath); err != nil {
    return fmt.Errorf("vault path unreachable: %w", err)
}

null

_, err := AnalyzeObsidianVault(vaultPath)
if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "read Vault root") {
    askUserToReconnectOrRepickVault()
}

When it happens

Trigger: validateObsidianVaultRoot at kernel/model/import_obsidian.go:568 when the vault root cannot be stat'ed: typo'd path, deleted folder, disconnected drive, or permission denied on a parent directory.

Common situations: Vault folder moved/renamed after being saved in settings; external/USB drive unplugged; network share unavailable; macOS privacy (TCC) blocking kernel access to Documents/Desktop.

Understand the failure class

Background: "File not found" and ENOENT errors: why libraries can't find a file that should exist — this error's family across 50 libraries.

Related errors

• read referenced attachment [%s]: %w
• %w: normalize Vault path: %v
• %w: Vault root and SiYuan workspace contain each other
• %w: read Vault config directory: %v
• read Vault directory [%s]: %w

AI-assisted analysis of siyuan-note/siyuan@8641553a1f (2026-09-11). Data as JSON: /api/errors/18849ecbf2c92329. Report an issue: GitHub.