| --- |
| summary: Node + tsx "__name is not a function" crash notes and workarounds |
| read_when: |
| - Debugging Node-only dev scripts or watch mode failures |
| - Investigating tsx/esbuild loader crashes in OpenClaw |
| title: "Node + tsx Crash" |
| --- |
| |
| # Node + tsx "\_\_name is not a function" crash |
|
|
| ## Summary |
|
|
| Running OpenClaw via Node with `tsx` fails at startup with: |
|
|
| ``` |
| [openclaw] Failed to start CLI: TypeError: __name is not a function |
| at createSubsystemLogger (.../src/logging/subsystem.ts:203:25) |
| at .../src/agents/auth-profiles/constants.ts:25:20 |
| ``` |
|
|
| This began after switching dev scripts from Bun to `tsx` (commit `2871657e`, 2026-01-06). The same runtime path worked with Bun. |
|
|
| ## Environment |
|
|
| - Node: v25.x (observed on v25.3.0) |
| - tsx: 4.21.0 |
| - OS: macOS (repro also likely on other platforms that run Node 25) |
|
|
| ## Repro (Node-only) |
|
|
| ```bash |
| # in repo root |
| node --version |
| pnpm install |
| node --import tsx src/entry.ts status |
| ``` |
|
|
| ## Minimal repro in repo |
|
|
| ```bash |
| node --import tsx scripts/repro/tsx-name-repro.ts |
| ``` |
|
|
| ## Node version check |
|
|
| - Node 25.3.0: fails |
| - Node 22.22.0 (Homebrew `node@22`): fails |
| - Node 24: not installed here yet; needs verification |
|
|
| ## Notes / hypothesis |
|
|
| - `tsx` uses esbuild to transform TS/ESM. esbuild’s `keepNames` emits a `__name` helper and wraps function definitions with `__name(...)`. |
| - The crash indicates `__name` exists but is not a function at runtime, which implies the helper is missing or overwritten for this module in the Node 25 loader path. |
| - Similar `__name` helper issues have been reported in other esbuild consumers when the helper is missing or rewritten. |
|
|
| ## Regression history |
|
|
| - `2871657e` (2026-01-06): scripts changed from Bun to tsx to make Bun optional. |
| - Before that (Bun path), `openclaw status` and `gateway:watch` worked. |
|
|
| ## Workarounds |
|
|
| - Use Bun for dev scripts (current temporary revert). |
| - Use Node + tsc watch, then run compiled output: |
|
|
| ```bash |
| pnpm exec tsc --watch --preserveWatchOutput |
| node --watch openclaw.mjs status |
| ``` |
|
|
| - Confirmed locally: `pnpm exec tsc -p tsconfig.json` + `node openclaw.mjs status` works on Node 25. |
| - Disable esbuild keepNames in the TS loader if possible (prevents `__name` helper insertion); tsx does not currently expose this. |
| - Test Node LTS (22/24) with `tsx` to see if the issue is Node 25–specific. |
|
|
| ## References |
|
|
| - [https://opennext.js.org/cloudflare/howtos/keep_names](https://opennext.js.org/cloudflare/howtos/keep_names) |
| - [https://esbuild.github.io/api/#keep-names](https://esbuild.github.io/api/#keep-names) |
| - [https://github.com/evanw/esbuild/issues/1031](https://github.com/evanw/esbuild/issues/1031) |
|
|
| ## Next steps |
|
|
| - Repro on Node 22/24 to confirm Node 25 regression. |
| - Test `tsx` nightly or pin to earlier version if a known regression exists. |
| - If reproduces on Node LTS, file a minimal repro upstream with the `__name` stack trace. |
|
|
