Summary
Running arctl version when the daemon is not running produces a confusing error that looks like a failure, even though the user just wants to check the CLI version.
Steps to reproduce
# With daemon not running
arctl version
Current output
arctl version v0.3.3
Git commit: 89dc215
Build date: 2026-04-02
Error getting server version: Get "http://localhost:12121/v0/version": dial tcp [::1]:12121: connect: connection refused
Expected behaviour
One of:
version should only show the CLI version — server version is a separate concern. A arctl daemon status or arctl version --server flag could optionally fetch it.
- Or auto-start the daemon — if
arctl always requires the daemon, start it transparently on any command (similar to how Docker Desktop handles the daemon).
- Or show a clear hint — if the daemon check fails, print
Daemon not running — start it with: arctl daemon start instead of a raw connection error.
Why this matters
Users hitting this for the first time (e.g. from install scripts) see connection refused and assume something is broken. The CLI version check is a natural first step after install — it should always succeed cleanly.
Environment
- arctl v0.3.3
- macOS Darwin 25.3.0
Summary
Running
arctl versionwhen the daemon is not running produces a confusing error that looks like a failure, even though the user just wants to check the CLI version.Steps to reproduce
# With daemon not running arctl versionCurrent output
Expected behaviour
One of:
versionshould only show the CLI version — server version is a separate concern. Aarctl daemon statusorarctl version --serverflag could optionally fetch it.arctlalways requires the daemon, start it transparently on any command (similar to how Docker Desktop handles the daemon).Daemon not running — start it with: arctl daemon startinstead of a raw connection error.Why this matters
Users hitting this for the first time (e.g. from install scripts) see
connection refusedand assume something is broken. The CLI version check is a natural first step after install — it should always succeed cleanly.Environment