VFX-D-1201¶

Title¶

UnknownStepType

Explanation¶

A step's type matches no step type the pinned engine bundles, which are the only types this server's validator knows. Reported as validation data on a successful call — distinct from VFX-E-1250 (StepTypeNotInCatalogue), which fires when describe_step_type itself is asked about an unknown type; this code instead describes a suite that references one.

From engine v1.2.0 the CLI can also load trusted external providers, so a type this code reports may still be valid for the engine you run. validate_suite cannot check such a step, and run_suite refuses the suite before starting the CLI.

Common causes¶

• A typo in a step's type field (e.g. http.rst instead of http.rest).
• Referencing a step type from a different engine version than the one currently pinned (ENGINE_PIN).
• Copy-pasting a step from a different project whose engine defines additional step types this one does not.
• The type comes from a trusted external provider that the engine loads from VOUCHFX_PROVIDERS or ~/.vouchfx/providers (engine v1.2.0 and later). list_step_types then lists it with tier: "community", and vouchfx validate passes the suite.

Fixes¶

• Call list_step_types to see every step type the installed engine loads, including any external provider's.
• Compare the type string carefully — dotted <family>.<provider> form, case-sensitive.
• Use describe_step_type on the corrected type to confirm its field contract before fixing the suite.
• If list_step_types lists the type with tier: "community", do not rename it. Validate and run the suite with vouchfx validate and vouchfx run instead, because this server can neither validate nor run it.