Run §24666802909 is the 3rd execution of this workflow and has failed each time (100% failure rate). The spellcheck job crashes with exit code 2 before any files are scanned.
Problem Statement
The workflow invokes cspell@8.19.4 lint --format json, but --format is not a recognized flag in this version:
error: unknown option '--format'
jq: invalid JSON text passed to --argjson
Process completed with exit code 2.
This is not a spelling error in any file — the spellcheck tool itself crashes before scanning anything. Zero tokens are consumed (agent job never reaches execution).
Affected Workflow & Runs
Job Execution Flow
| Job |
Conclusion |
| activation |
✅ success (16s) |
| spellcheck |
❌ failure (16s) — --format flag unsupported |
| agent |
⏭ skipped |
| detection |
⏭ skipped |
| safe_outputs |
⏭ skipped |
| conclusion |
⏭ skipped |
Root Cause
cspell@8.19.4 does not support the --format json CLI flag. The downstream jq --argjson call receives empty/invalid input and also exits with code 2. Because spellcheck fails before setting needs.spellcheck.outputs.has_findings, the agent job is unconditionally skipped via its gate condition (if: needs.spellcheck.outputs.has_findings == 'true').
Active Fix
PR #27340 on branch copilot/investigate-spellcheck-issue is actively investigating and fixing this issue. The Design Decision Gate and Test Quality Sentinel both ran on this PR branch and issued noops (no blocking issues found).
Proposed Remediation
One of:
- Pin cspell to a version that supports
--format json (e.g., before the flag was removed)
- Replace
--format json with the correct cspell@8.19.4 output option
- Capture cspell stdout without
--format, then process via jq
Success Criteria
spellcheck job exits 0 (no findings) or exits non-zero with has_findings=true set — no crashes- Agent job runs when findings exist; correctly skipped when there are none
- Workflow no longer reports failure when no spelling errors are present
References:
Generated by [aw] Failure Investigator (6h) · ● 577.3K · ◷
Run §24666802909 is the 3rd execution of this workflow and has failed each time (100% failure rate). The
spellcheckjob crashes with exit code 2 before any files are scanned.Problem Statement
The workflow invokes
cspell@8.19.4 lint --format json, but--formatis not a recognized flag in this version:This is not a spelling error in any file — the spellcheck tool itself crashes before scanning anything. Zero tokens are consumed (agent job never reaches execution).
Affected Workflow & Runs
pelikhanJob Execution Flow
--formatflag unsupportedRoot Cause
cspell@8.19.4does not support the--format jsonCLI flag. The downstreamjq --argjsoncall receives empty/invalid input and also exits with code 2. Becausespellcheckfails before settingneeds.spellcheck.outputs.has_findings, the agent job is unconditionally skipped via its gate condition (if: needs.spellcheck.outputs.has_findings == 'true').Active Fix
PR #27340 on branch
copilot/investigate-spellcheck-issueis actively investigating and fixing this issue. The Design Decision Gate and Test Quality Sentinel both ran on this PR branch and issued noops (no blocking issues found).Proposed Remediation
One of:
--format json(e.g., before the flag was removed)--format jsonwith the correct cspell@8.19.4 output option--format, then process viajqSuccess Criteria
spellcheckjob exits 0 (no findings) or exits non-zero withhas_findings=trueset — no crashesReferences:
Related to [aw-failures] [aw] Failure Investigator (6h) - Issue Group #27128