vectordotdev/vector · error

Failed to build Vector for example validation

Error message

Failed to build Vector for example validation

What it means

During example validation, `vdev` attempts to build the `vector` binary via `cargo build --bin vector`. If cargo fails or returns a non-zero exit status, the command bails so validation cannot proceed without a binary.

Solutions

1. Run `cargo build --bin vector` directly to see the real compiler error.
2. Fix the compile error or missing build dependency.
3. Ensure the correct toolchain (`rustup show`) and enough disk space, then re-run the check.

cargo build --bin vector && test -f target/debug/vector

let out = Command::new("cargo").args(["build","--bin","vector"]).output()?;
if !out.status.success() { bail!("build failed: {}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr)); }

When it happens

Trigger: `cargo build --bin vector` exits with an error (compile failure) or the spawned command itself fails, in `vector_binary` called from `validate_examples`.

Common situations: Broken workspace after recent edits; missing system dependencies; disk full; wrong toolchain; running the check on a partial feature set that fails to compile.

Related errors

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AI-assisted analysis of vectordotdev/vector@bdb87aeaa4 (2026-09-16). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e226a9a74ee6b7a1. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at vdev/src/commands/check/component_examples.rs:407

    mapping
        .keys()
        .find_map(YamlValue::as_str)
        .map(str::to_owned)
        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("{description} has no component identifier"))
}

fn vector_binary(repo_root: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf> {
    if let Some(vector_bin) = std::env::var_os("VECTOR_BIN") {
        return Ok(PathBuf::from(vector_bin));
    }

    let status = Command::new("cargo")
        .current_dir(repo_root)
        .args(["build", "--bin", "vector"])
        .status()
        .context("Failed to build Vector for example validation")?;
    if !status.success() {
        bail!("Failed to build Vector for example validation")
    }

    let target_dir = std::env::var_os("CARGO_TARGET_DIR").map_or_else(
        || repo_root.join("target"),
        |path| {
            let path = PathBuf::from(path);
            if path.is_absolute() {
                path
            } else {
                repo_root.join(path)
            }
        },
    );
    let vector_bin = target_dir
        .join("debug")
        .join(format!("vector{}", std::env::consts::EXE_SUFFIX));
    if !vector_bin.is_file() {
        bail!(

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