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This guide covers common issues you might encounter when using Drift CLI and how to resolve them.

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Installation and setup issues

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Command not found: drift

After installing Drift CLI, if you see this error when trying to run drift: 
bash: drift: command not found
Solution: The drift binary needs to be added to your shell’s PATH. Try restarting your terminal session, or manually reload your shell configuration: 
source ~/.bashrc  # for Bash users
Or if you’re using Zsh: 
source ~/.zshrc  # for Zsh users
After sourcing your configuration file, the drift command should be available. If the issue persists, verify the installation completed successfully.

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Update issues

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Update fails

If the /update command fails or doesn’t complete successfully: 
drift> /update
Error: Failed to download or install update
Solution: Manually download and install the latest version:
1

Download the latest release

Visit the releases page and download the latest .deb package:
# Example filename (version may vary)
drift-cli_1.0.12_amd64.deb
2

Install with dpkg

Install the downloaded package:
sudo dpkg -i drift-cli_*.*.*_amd64.deb
3

Verify installation

Check that the update was successful:
drift
Then run:
drift> /version
Make sure you have a stable internet connection when running /update. Network issues can cause update failures.

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Permission issues

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Permission denied errors

If you encounter permission errors during installation or operation: 
Error: Permission denied
Solution: Ensure you have proper permissions for the operation:

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During installation

The installer may need sudo access to install system-wide: 
curl -fsSL https://godrift.ai/install | bash
If prompted, enter your password to grant sudo access.

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During workspace operations

If you get permission errors when creating workspaces or packages:
  1. Check that you have write permissions in the target directory: 
    ls -la /path/to/workspace
  2. If needed, change ownership: 
    sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /path/to/workspace
  3. Or use a directory where you have write permissions: 
    drift> create a workspace in ~/my_robot_ws

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Getting additional help

If you encounter issues not covered here:

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Use the /help command

Run /help within Drift for built-in assistance: 
drift> /help

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Ask Drift directly

Drift’s AI can help troubleshoot issues. Describe your problem: 
drift> why isn't my camera publishing images?
drift> I'm getting build errors, can you help?
drift> my robot isn't spawning in Gazebo

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Check process status

Use /ps to see what’s running: 
drift> /ps
This helps identify if processes failed to start or are stuck.

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Report bugs

Found a bug? Report it on GitHub:

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Contact support

For additional help:
When reporting issues, include:
  • Your Drift CLI version (run /version)
  • Your operating system and version
  • ROS2 distribution (Humble, Foxy, etc.)
  • Gazebo version
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Error messages or logs
  • What you expected to happen vs. what actually happened
This information helps the team diagnose and fix issues quickly.