wavetermdev/waveterm · error

object reference is not a block

Error message

object reference is not a block

What it means

deleteBlockRun resolves the block argument to a full object reference and requires its OType to be exactly "block". If the reference resolves to another object type (file, job, applet, etc.), the command refuses to delete it and returns this error before issuing the DeleteBlockCommand RPC.

Source

Thrown at cmd/wsh/cmd/wshcmd-deleteblock.go:40

func init() {
	rootCmd.AddCommand(deleteBlockCmd)
}

func deleteBlockRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (rtnErr error) {
	defer func() {
		sendActivity("deleteblock", rtnErr == nil)
	}()
	var blockRef string
	if len(args) > 0 {
		blockRef = args[0]
	}
	fullORef, err := resolveBlockArgWithOverride(blockRef)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}
	if fullORef.OType != "block" {
		return fmt.Errorf("object reference is not a block")
	}
	deleteBlockData := &wshrpc.CommandDeleteBlockData{
		BlockId: fullORef.OID,
	}
	err = wshclient.DeleteBlockCommand(RpcClient, *deleteBlockData, &wshrpc.RpcOpts{Timeout: 2000})
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("delete block failed: %v", err)
	}
	WriteStdout("block deleted\n")
	return nil
}

View on GitHub (pinned to a4447c1563)

Solutions

1. Verify the object type with `wsh obj` or block info before deleting
2. Pass the OID of an actual block (terminal, preview, etc.)
3. Re-run with the correct block id from `wsh ls` / getblocks

Example fix

// before
wsh deleteblock <file-oid>
// after
wsh deleteblock <block-oid>

oref, err := wshclient.ResolveBlockCommand(rpc, blockId, nil)
if err != nil || oref.OType != "block" {
    return fmt.Errorf("%s is not a block", blockId)
}

func isBlockRef(oref waveobj.ORef) bool {
    return oref.OType == "block"
}

if err := runDeleteBlock(ref); err != nil {
    if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "object reference is not a block") {
        // resolve the actual block id and retry
    }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling `wsh deleteblock` with a reference (OID or name) that resolves to a non-block object, e.g. a file or job object.

Common situations: Passing a file OID instead of a terminal/preview block id; using a bookmark or object name that shadows a non-block object; copying the wrong OID from block info.

Related errors

• badge oref must be a block or tab (got %q)
• unknown --view %q; try one of: term, web, preview, edit, sys
• --workspace and --window are mutually exclusive; specify onl
• cannot parse connection name: %w
• --conn parameter is required

AI-assisted analysis of wavetermdev/waveterm@a4447c1563 (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/a37a0caaf5e3a389. Report an issue: GitHub.