The Codebuff CLI (codebuff command) doesn’t work

[Andy1996247]

What’s Happening
The Codebuff CLI doesn’t work it just exits with no output, no errors, no prompt. Yesterday, it ran fine. Today, it’s doing nothing when I run codebuff or codebuff --version. I’ve tried a bunch of fixes, but it still doesn’t work.
My System

OS: Ubuntu 24.04
Node: 20.19.5 (tried 22.15.0 before), using NVM
NPM: 10.8.2 (with Node 20.19.5)
Codebuff: Probably 1.0.485 (based on earlier install)
NVM: Latest version

What I’ve Done

Installed Codebuff Globally:

Ran:
npm install -g codebuff

It installed fine, said added 11 packages.

Checked the binary:
ls -l /home/username/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.5/bin/codebuff

It’s there, a symlink to ../lib/node_modules/codebuff/index.js with lrwxrwxrwx permissions.

Tried codebuff and codebuff --version, but nothing happens—no output.

Checked PATH:

Made sure the Node bin is in my PATH:
echo $PATH | grep /home/username/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.5/bin

It’s there.

Added NVM to ~/.bashrc:
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

Reloaded with source ~/.bashrc.

Reinstalled Codebuff:

Did this a few times:
npm uninstall -g codebuff
npm cache clean --force
npm install -g codebuff

Binary shows up, but codebuff still doesn’t run

Switched Node Versions:

Was on Node 22.15.0, switched to 20.19.5:
nvm install 20
nvm use 20
npm install -g codebuff

Same problem: codebuff does nothing.

Tried in a Project Directory:

Ran in my project folder with code files:
cd ~/my project
codebuff

Nothing.

Made a simple test folder:
mkdir ~/test-codebuff
cd ~/test-codebuff
echo 'console.log("Hello World");' > index.js
codebuff

Still nothing.

Tried Local Install:

Cloned the repo:
git clone https://github.com/CodebuffAI/codebuff
cd codebuff
npm install

Got an error: EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL about workspace:*.
Didn’t work, so I stuck with the global install.

Tried Debugging:

Ran:
DEBUG=* codebuff

No output.

Ran the script directly:
node /home/username/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.5/lib/node_modules/codebuff/index.js

Still nothing.

Login Context:

Yesterday, I logged into my Codebuff account througth the CLI, and codebuff worked fine. Today, it’s broken, and I don’t know why.

What I Expected
When I run codebuff or codebuff --version, it should:

Show the version (like 1.0.485).
Start the CLI with a prompt like “What would you like to build or edit?”.

What’s Happening Instead

codebuff and codebuff --version do nothing—just exit, no errors, no output.

[thisisharsh7]

Hey could you please share the terminal screenshot it will be easier to debug

[Andy1996247]

Hey could you please share the terminal screenshot it will be easier to debug

[jahooma]

I'm not currently sure why this happens, but I do know a workaround:

If you delete the file at ~/.config/manicode/codebuff, then re-run codebuff, it would hopefully re-download the binary and work for you.

We should investigate the underlying cause though. I think sometimes when downloaded it can get corrupted? Maybe our wrapper script could be more robust to no output from codebuff --version.

I appreciate all the debug info you've provided!

[Andy1996247]

Okay @jahooma It seems like that worked. It redownloaded the binary. And it works for now. I will keep you updated if I run into any other issues.

[nothingman4ik]

same issue but reinstalling binary not working for me, i very want to try codebuff

[charleslien]

same issue but reinstalling binary not working for me, i very want to try codebuff

Did you run the same commands? codebuff --version
What's your OS?

[nothingman4ik]

same issue but reinstalling binary not working for me, i very want to try codebuff

Did you run the same commands? codebuff --version
What's your OS?

Not working also, i say same issue at all but reinstalling binary not working
My OS - Windows 10

[thisisharsh7]

hey can you please share the terminal screenshot

[pavondunbar]

I had the same issue, but I ran this in my terminal in my project's root directory, and it worked.

npm exec codebuff

Hope this helps.

[pavondunbar]

You can also do this if you're on a Mac like I am:

1. Run export PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node/23.7.0/bin from the root directory (not to be confused with your project's root directory)

2. Run source ~/.zshrc or source ~/.bashrc (depending on which one you use)

3. Run codebuff from your project's root directory now.

You should be good to go.

Hope this helps too. This is a Plan B if Plan A above doesn't work for you.

[ibrahimshadev]

➜  work git:(main) npm install -g codebuff

changed 11 packages in 2s
➜  work git:(main) codebuff
➜  work git:(main) npm uninstall -g codebuff

removed 11 packages in 240ms
➜  work git:(main) codebuff                 
zsh: command not found: codebuff
➜  work git:(main) npm install -g codebuff  

added 11 packages in 253ms
➜  work git:(main) codebuff               
➜  work git:(main) npm uninstall -g codebuff

removed 11 packages in 158ms
➜  work git:(main) npm cache clean --force
npm warn using --force Recommended protections disabled.
➜  work git:(main) codebuff                 
zsh: command not found: codebuff
➜  work git:(main) npm install -g codebuff  

added 11 packages in 931ms
➜  work git:(main) codebuff               
➜  work git:(main) codebuff --version
➜  work git:(main) npm exec codebuff 

Same issue for me nothing happens after running codebuff my system info

### System Information

- **OS**: Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS (noble)
- **Kernel**: 6.14.0-29-generic x86_64
- **Shell**: /usr/bin/zsh
- **CPU Arch**: x86_64

### Environment

- **Python**: 3.12.3
- **Node.js**: v22.16.0
- **npm**: 10.9.2

### Additional Environment Variables (trimmed)
```text
COLORTERM=truecolor
DESKTOP_SESSION=ubuntu
DISPLAY=:1
EDITOR=nvim
GDMSESSION=ubuntu
GNOME_SHELL_SESSION_MODE=ubuntu
LANG=en_US.UTF-8