bash commands does not work

[leonardorpaixao]

Describe the bug

Tool: GitHub Copilot CLI
- Erro: TypeError [ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE]: The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined
- Contexto: trying to use bash tool with sessionId
- OS: Darwin (macOS)

Affected version

0.0.332

Steps to reproduce the behavior

just ask for a command including bash.

Expected behavior

Execute the command properly.

Additional context

No response

[lostintangent]

Hey! 👋🏼 Could you share a specific prompt that you run into this error? I'm also using macOS, and I just tried, but wasn't able to repro it.

[desktophero]

I'm experiencing this issue so sharing similar outputs.

First, local install details:

copilot --version
0.0.333
Commit: 4cbf3da

Running on macOS

my prompt:

setup dependabot to check for updates to npm packages defined in a new folder called copilot-components. Add a package.json to this new folder. Add dependabot yaml to .github folder and have dependabot scan for package updates across all of the package.json/lock files in the repo. create the necessary files and folders

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ✗ Create copilot-components directory
   $ cd /Users/desktophero/code/temp/github-copilot-adoption && mkdir -p copilot-components && echo "Directory created"
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 Operation cancelled by user

I hit esc to stop the loop above.

I then just asked copilot to create the folder, no other detail:

prompt: create a folder called copilot-components

I apologize for the technical difficulties with the bash tool. It seems there's
   an issue with the tool configuration. Let me create a workaround by creating a
   placeholder file in the copilot-components directory, which will create the
   directory automatically:

 ✗ Create copilot-components/.gitkeep
   Parent directory does not exist

 ● I understand the issue - the str_replace_editor tool cannot create parent
   directories. Since the bash tool seems to have a configuration issue, could you
   please manually create the copilot-components folder in your terminal? You can
   run:

     mkdir copilot-components

   Once the folder is created, I can then add the package.json file to it.
   Alternatively, if you have already created the folder, please let me know and
   I'll proceed with creating the package.json file.

   In the meantime, I've successfully created the Dependabot configuration file at
   .github/dependabot.yml with daily checks for both the root directory and the
   copilot-components directory. Would you like me to show you the contents of that
   file?

I then asked copilot, how do I fix this issue?

prompt: how do I fix the configuration of the bash tool?

 ● The bash tool configuration issue appears to be related to missing working
   directory setup. Let me try a simpler approach without changing directories:

 ✗ Test bash and create directory
   $ pwd
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

I put copilot into debug mode and see this output in the tool_calls output:

new cli startup:

copilot --log-dir ~/copilot-logs --log-level debug

{
      "finish_reason": "tool_calls",
      "message": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "tool_calls": [
          {
            "function": {
              "arguments": "{\"async\":false,\"command\":\"pwd \\u0026\\u0026 ls -la\",\"description\":\"Show current directory and list files\",\"sessionId\":\"main\"}",
              "name": "bash"
            },
            "id": "tooluse_CNjdLsLOTjG9WNJaWt7qMg",
            "type": "function"
          }
        ]
      }

Perhaps the unicode "&" is affecting this is some way?

I then asked copilot to use bash to view the pwd

prompt: use the bash tool to view the pwd

 ✗ Show current working directory
   $ pwd
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

Debug log:

{
      "finish_reason": "tool_calls",
      "message": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "tool_calls": [
          {
            "function": {
              "arguments": "{\"async\":false,\"command\":\"pwd\",\"description\":\"Show current working directory\",\"sessionId\":\"main\"}",
              "name": "bash"
            },
            "id": "tooluse_qXeEsiEKT5-Kx-xbILEOUQ",
            "type": "function"
          }
        ]
      }

I didn't see any unicode here in the command value above but similar error is raised.

I then restarted copilot with copilot --log-dir ~/copilot-logs --log-level debug --allow-all-tools and ran the pwd prompt above again:

● I'll run the pwd command to show the current working directory.

 ✗ Show current working directory
   $ pwd
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ● Let me try again with the bash command:

 ✗ Show current working directory
   $ pwd
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

 ● Let me try a different approach with the bash tool:

 ✗ Show current working directory
   $ pwd
   The "path" argument must be of type string. Received undefined

similar output in JSON log

{
      "finish_reason": "tool_calls",
      "message": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "tool_calls": [
          {
            "function": {
              "arguments": "{\"async\":false,\"command\":\"pwd\",\"description\":\"Show current working directory\",\"sessionId\":\"pwd-session\"}",
              "name": "bash"
            },
            "id": "tooluse_vy8pr9bKR0meRnIGZvXlPA",
            "type": "function"
          }
        ]
      }

[Eastonco]

@desktophero @leonardorpaixao Have you verified you're using Node v22+? I was having the same issue when running on v18

Also duplicate of #180

[leonardorpaixao]

@Eastonco I was using the version that metion, but even after updating the version to 22, the problem is still there.

[desktophero]

I thought I was on Node 22 but was on Node 20. Updated to Node 22 and ran the steps I reported above. After the update to Node 22, no more issues. Thank you, @Eastonco!

[jcchavezs]

I can confirm it was solved after upgrading to node22

[EvanBoyle]

We're now enforcing a node version check. So closing this issue out.

[andresgutgon]

Still having this issue

❯ copilot --version
0.0.354
Commit: 076bd172b
❯ node -v
v22.14.0