title: Troubleshooting description: Identify common runtime, terminal, plugin, integration, and test failures and open the canonical fix skill: entry: true intents: [troubleshooting, terminal-reset, ffi-errors, native-loading, runtime-plugins, protocols, test-timeouts]

Troubleshooting

Start with the visible symptom. Run the diagnostic in its row, then open the linked guide for the complete behavior.

Terminal and output

Symptom	Diagnostic and first action	Canonical guide
Keys do not echo after exit	On POSIX, run `stty -a`. The flags `-echo` or `-icanon` show unrestored terminal input state. Run `reset`, then inspect every exit path. `SIGKILL` cannot run signal handlers or `renderer.destroy()`.	Lifecycle and cleanup
Logs overwrite or corrupt the UI	Read `renderer.screenMode`, `renderer.externalOutputMode`, and `renderer.consoleMode`. Also check `OTUI_USE_ALTERNATE_SCREEN` and `OTUI_OVERRIDE_STDOUT`. Use the console overlay for `console.*`, or use split-footer capture for stdout. Stderr remains separate.	Renderer output modes and Console overlay
Main-screen or split-footer rows remain damaged	Confirm the resolved `screenMode`. Call `destroy()` before the transport closes. A custom transport needs time to flush shutdown bytes.	Screen modes and custom cleanup

Node.js and native loading

For a native crash, use Native crash debugging to load matching release symbols and collect a useful report.

Symptom	Diagnostic and first action	Canonical guide
`OpenTUI native FFI is not available for this runtime yet`	Run `node --version`. It must print `v26.4.0` or later. Start the ESM app with `node --experimental-ffi app.mjs`. With `--permission`, also grant `--allow-ffi` and native-library read access.	Node.js runtime
`ERR_REQUIRE_ASYNC_MODULE`	Find `require("@opentui/core")` or a CommonJS entry. Change the application to ESM and use `import`.	Node.js runtime
A native package or library is missing	Run `bun -e 'console.log(process.platform, process.arch, process.env.OPENTUI_LIBC ? process.env.OPENTUI_LIBC : "glibc")'`. Replace `bun` with `node` for a Node.js host. Check for the matching `@opentui/core-*` optional package. An install that omits optional dependencies can defer the failure until native work.	Native artifacts
Linux reports a loader error for `libopentui.so`	Compare the selected libc with the target system. Set `OPENTUI_LIBC=musl` before Core imports on musl. On Alpine, install `libstdc++` and `libgcc`.	Select the Linux libc
`OTUI_ASSET_ROOT must be an absolute directory`	Print `process.env.OTUI_ASSET_ROOT`. Replace a relative value with an absolute path before Core imports.	`OTUI_ASSET_ROOT`
`Missing OpenTUI asset`	Compare the missing key with the exact keys from build-time `getNodeAssets()`. A configured asset root has no package fallback. Extract or copy the complete asset set.	Runtime assets and Node.js SEA

Runtime-loaded modules

Symptom	Diagnostic and first action	Canonical guide
A runtime-plugin entry says it is Bun-only	Check `process.versions.bun`. Run the host with Bun. Node.js cannot use these entry points.	Runtime module loading
The installer says it is already installed without a specifier	Search the entry graph for a side-effect runtime-plugin support import. Remove it, then call the matching `/configure` installer once with the complete `additional` map.	Configure before loading
A plugin receives a different Core, React, or Solid singleton	Compare one exported object by identity in the host and plugin. Search for stacked Core and framework installers. Keep one host installer and one complete map.	Choose one installer
A second installer call does not replace an existing map value	Record the return values. The first compatible call returns `true` and later compatible calls return `false`. Existing keys keep their first installed entries.	Repeated installation
A Three.js import fails inside a plugin	Inspect the plugin's exact import. The first-party map exposes only `@opentui/three`. It does not expose `three`, `three/webgpu`, or `three/tsl`. Deploy those dependencies or add explicit trusted host mappings.	Default module maps
A dependency under `node_modules` does not use the host runtime	Check its extension and nearest `package.json`. Rewriting there supports ESM only. A CommonJS helper that imports runtime modules is not rewritten.	Rewriting behavior
Solid TSX under `node_modules` fails or uses the wrong JSX runtime	Check whether the package ships uncompiled JSX or TSX. The Solid transform excludes `node_modules`. Publish precompiled ESM or load source from outside that directory.	Solid transform order
A compiled executable cannot find a plugin	Log the resolved plugin URL. Check that the plugin file and every unmapped dependency exist outside the executable. Runtime support does not embed unknown sidecars.	Executable sidecars and deployment forms

Integrations and protocols

Symptom	Diagnostic and first action	Canonical guide
Tree-sitter reports `Worker initialization timed out` or a generic highlight initialization error	Call `await client.initialize()` directly to retain the original error. Check the worker, WASM, parser, query, and data paths. Under Node.js permissions, allow workers, asset reads, and data-path writes.	Tree-sitter and runtime assets
An image uses Unicode blocks instead of Kitty or Sixel	Log `renderer.capabilities`, `renderer.resolution`, and `image.effectiveProtocol`. Auto mode uses blocks in tmux. Sixel also uses blocks until pixel resolution is available. Check protocol environment overrides.	Image rendering protocol
Image output breaks inside a multiplexer	Read `renderer.capabilities?.multiplexer`. Auto mode chooses blocks in tmux. Explicit Kitty or usable Sixel uses tmux passthrough. Remove unsupported forced protocols.	Image rendering protocol and terminal capabilities
An SSH clipboard operation affects the server	Read `renderer.capabilities?.remote` and the host and terminal result statuses. Host clipboard access targets the SSH server. Use `terminal-only` for the client clipboard.	Remote clipboard sessions
`triggerNotification()` returns `false`	Read `renderer.isDestroyed`, `renderer.capabilities?.notifications`, and `renderer.capabilities?.multiplexer`. The method returns false after destruction or without a detected protocol. Check `OPENTUI_NOTIFICATIONS` and `OPENTUI_NOTIFICATION_PROTOCOL`.	Notifications
Notifications fail through tmux or Zellij	In tmux, enable the required passthrough policy. In Zellij, confirm OSC 99 forwarding support. Use an override only when detection misses supported forwarding.	Notification multiplexers
`ThreeRenderable init failed` appears once and the view stays blank	Read the logged WebGPU error and check `bun-webgpu` 0.1.7. The renderable records an initialization failure and does not retry. Fix the cause, then create a new renderable.	ThreeRenderable lifecycle

Test waits

Symptom	Diagnostic and first action	Canonical guide
`Timed out waiting for visual idle after ... frames`	Read the attached `frameId`, `nativeFrameCount`, `cellsUpdated`, and scheduler fields. Stop unintended live rendering or release the live request. Increase `maxFrames` only when the expected work needs more frames.	Waiting for observable output

Native builds across worktrees

Zig shares its global cache by default. For repeated native builds across many worktrees, you can also share the project cache:

export ZIG_LOCAL_CACHE_DIR="$HOME/.cache/opentui/zig-local-0.16.0"
bun run build:native

Use a persistent local directory. Use a separate directory for each Zig version. bun run clean does not remove an external cache.

Environment variables lists diagnostics and overrides.
Runtime and platform support owns version, target, permission, and asset rules.
Deploy an OpenTUI application covers release-specific failures.

Referenced from SKILL.md

SKILL.mdView in source ↗

91| `testing`, `test-renderer`, `snapshots`, `frames`                                                                    | `docs/core-concepts/testing.mdx`            |92| `troubleshooting`, `terminal-reset`, `ffi-errors`, `native-loading`, `runtime-plugins`, `protocols`, `test-timeouts` | `docs/test-and-debug/troubleshooting.mdx`   |93| `plugins`, `plugin`, `slots`, `registry`, `extensions`                                                               | `docs/plugins/slots.mdx`                    |