Help**This codespace is currently running in recovery mode due to a configuration error.

[Pbbalsiger]

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Hello- Ive tried everything to get this error to move forward. Please help..This codespace is currently running in recovery mode due to a configuration error. Please review the creation logs, update your dev container configuration as needed, and run the "Rebuild Container" command to rectify.

[HarshPanchal01]

When a Codespace enters Recovery Mode, it means the container build process failed. This is almost always due to a syntax error in your configuration or a broken dependency in your setup scripts.

Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue:

1. Locate the "Creation Log"

• Press Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac) to open the Command Palette.
• Type and select: Codespaces: View Creation Log.
• Scroll to the bottom and look for red text or lines containing ERROR or Non-zero exit code.

2. Common Fixes

Check your .devcontainer folder for these frequent issues:

• JSON Syntax: Ensure devcontainer.json doesn't have trailing commas or missing quotes.
• Feature Conflicts: If you recently added a "Feature" (like Docker-in-Docker or Node.js), try commenting it out to see if the build succeeds.
• Dockerfile Errors: If you use a custom Dockerfile, ensure your FROM image is still valid and that any RUN commands haven't failed (e.g., a package name that changed).

3. Perform a "Full Rebuild"

Sometimes a standard rebuild uses cached layers that are corrupted.

1. Open the Command Palette.
2. Run: Codespaces: Full Rebuild Container.

4. Temporary Escape

If you just need to get your code out:
While in Recovery Mode, your terminal is limited, but you can still use the Source Control tab on the left to commit your work and push it to GitHub, then try creating a fresh Codespace from the repository main page.

If you're still stuck, please paste the last few lines of your creation Log here so I can help you debug the specific error.

[Pbbalsiger]

Can you dummy this down like im a 2nd grader. Where do I type this information?

[Pbbalsiger]

Also this has never worked. Ive been trying for 2 weeks to get this fixed. Ive read others that had issues and followed those steps and cant seem to get it fixed. Im just trying to get caught up in this class before week 3 starts.

[anmolp476]

Sure, the error message is basically saying something along the lines of, "I tried building myself, but idk what happened but osmething went wrong".

Right now, im pretty sure ur codespace is labeled "latest", which chagnes all the time and sometimes breaks. You need to open the file, .devcontainer/devcontainer.json, find the line or something close to the line, "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/universal:latest". Once you find the line, change "universal:latest" to "universal:2".

Then save the file. Also for now, you might want to go back to that file, go to something that looks like,

"features": { ... }

and just comment out everything inside of it. Then save the file again.

Now rebuild the container and try agian(I think rebuilding is, using the CTRL + SHIFT + P command, then typing "Rebuild Container").

If this still doesn't work, then unfortunately I'm not sure what the issue is. I reccomend just deleting the Codespace entirely, but make sure your changes are pushed and saved to Github. Then create a new Codespace.

[Pbbalsiger]

ok, this is my confusion. Where am I opening this file? On my computer or in the program? If in the program, where am I putting this information?

[anmolp476]

You need to open this file in your Codespace :). Open the file explorer first, then find the .devcontainer folder, and inside you should see devcontainer.json. Open that JSON file and follow all the steps I mentioned before.

[MohamedOuijjane]

You edit this inside the Codespace, not on your computer.
A) Open the file (where you type things)

1. In the Codespace window, look on the left side for the File Explorer icon (it looks like two papers / a folder). Click it.
2. Find a folder named .devcontainer (the dot at the start is normal). Click it to open it.
3. Click devcontainer.json.
   That’s the file you edit.

B) Change the “image: … latest” to a stable version
Inside devcontainer.json, look for a line like:

"image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/universal:latest"
Change latest to 2, like this:

"image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/universal:2"

Then save (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S).

C) Temporarily remove features (common cause)

Still in devcontainer.json, if you see a section like:

"features": { ... }

Temporarily remove it (or empty it). The easiest safe edit is:

"features": {}

Save again.

D) Rebuild the container (the “try again” button)

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac).
2. Type: Rebuild Container
3. Click “Codespaces: Rebuild Container” (or “Full Rebuild Container” if you see it).

Wait for it to rebuild.

If they can’t reach the file explorer at all (still stuck in Recovery)

1. Open the repo on GitHub (web).
2. Click the .devcontainer/devcontainer.json file in the repo.
3. Click the pencil icon (Edit).
4. Make the same changes (universal:latest → universal:2, and features: {}), Commit changes.
5. Delete the broken codespace and create a new codespace.

[i-am-gk]

This usually happens when the devcontainer configuration is broken or a required dependency fails during startup. Codespaces goes into recovery mode so you can fix the issue manually.

Try these steps:

Open the Codespace in recovery mode.

Check the .devcontainer/devcontainer.json file for syntax errors or invalid settings.

Look at the startup logs (View creation logs) to see what failed.

If you recently changed something, revert it (Docker image, extensions, postCreateCommand, etc.).

Run:

devcontainer up --remove-existing-container

or rebuild the Codespace from the command palette:

Codespaces: Rebuild Container

If the problem continues:

Try deleting the Codespace and creating a new one.

Make sure the base image in your devcontainer is valid and accessible.

Check that all required packages and commands exist.

Recovery mode is meant to help you fix configuration mistakes without completely losing your environment.