lua-language-server --check Fails to Detect Issues in v3.8.0+

[jeffzi]

How are you using the lua-language-server?

Command Line

Which OS are you using?

MacOS

What is the issue affecting?

Diagnostics/Syntax Checking

Expected Behaviour

The --check command should detect and report issues in the code.

Actual Behaviour

Since v3.8.0, the --check command completes without finding any issues, even when there are known problems.

Reproduction steps

1. Create test.lua with content:

f() -- in vs-code, undefined-global is detected

2. Run

lua-language-server --check test.lua

Returns Diagnosis completed, no problems found

I'm expecting a diagnosis with code undefined-global

In 3.7.4, I get
Diagnosis complete, 1 problems found, see /opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.7.4/libexec/log/check.json

Additional Notes

I'm using lua-language-server in the command line in the context of CI.
Thank you for maintaining lua-language-server. Your work is much appreciated!

Log File

[11:39:48.950][info] [#0:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec/main.lua:68]: Lua Lsp startup, root: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec
[11:39:48.951][info] [#0:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec/main.lua:69]: ROOT: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec
[11:39:48.951][info] [#0:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec/main.lua:70]: LOGPATH: /tmp/lls_issue
[11:39:48.951][info] [#0:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec/main.lua:71]: METAPATH: /Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta
[11:39:48.951][info] [#0:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/lua-language-server/3.9.3/libexec/main.lua:72]: VERSION:
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/language.lua:137]: VSC language: nil
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/language.lua:138]: LS language: en-us
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/client.lua:657]: Client init {
rootUri = "file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua"
}
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/language.lua:137]: VSC language: nil
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/language.lua:138]: LS language: en-us
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:38]: Workspace init root: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:42]: Log path: /tmp/lls_issue/file_Users_jeffzi_Projects_personal_lua_llscheck_test.lua.log
[11:39:48.982][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:48]: Workspace create: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:48.983][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:36]: Load config from specified /Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/.luarc.json
[11:39:48.983][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:37]: {
["$schema"] = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sumneko/vscode-lua/master/setting/schema.json",
indent_size = "3",
indent_style = "space",
["runtime.version"] = "Lua 5.1",
["workspace.checkThirdParty"] = false,
["workspace.ignoreDir"] = { ".vscode" },
["workspace.library"] = {}
}
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:36]: Load config from specified /Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/.luarc.json
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:37]: {
["$schema"] = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sumneko/vscode-lua/master/setting/schema.json",
indent_size = "3",
indent_style = "space",
["runtime.version"] = "Lua 5.1",
["workspace.checkThirdParty"] = false,
["workspace.ignoreDir"] = { ".vscode" },
["workspace.library"] = {}
}
[11:39:48.984][warn] [#0:script/config/loader.lua:116]: No config? nil
[11:39:48.984][warn] [#0:script/config/loader.lua:116]: No config? nil
[11:39:48.984][warn] [#0:script/config/loader.lua:116]: No config? nil
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:61]: Load config from client fallback
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:62]: nil
[11:39:48.984][warn] [#0:script/config/loader.lua:116]: No config? nil
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:61]: Load config from client fallback
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/provider/provider.lua:62]: nil
[11:39:48.984][info] [#0:script/library.lua:212]: Init builtin library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.000][info] [#0:script/library.lua:212]: Init builtin library at: nil
[11:39:49.006][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:324]: Preload start: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.006][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:330]: Scan files at: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/table.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/math.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/builtin.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/string.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/basic.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/debug.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/os.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/package.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/coroutine.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/io.lua
[11:39:49.007][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:324]: Preload start:
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/table.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/math.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/builtin.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/string.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/basic.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/debug.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/os.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/package.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/coroutine.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:353]: Scan library at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/io.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:379]: Found 11 files at: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:161]: Load files from disk: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.008][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/io.lua , size = 6.309 KB
[11:39:49.011][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/io.lua
[11:39:49.011][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/coroutine.lua , size = 2.541 KB
[11:39:49.012][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/coroutine.lua
[11:39:49.012][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/package.lua , size = 2.699 KB
[11:39:49.013][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/package.lua
[11:39:49.013][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/os.lua , size = 5.507 KB
[11:39:49.015][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/os.lua
[11:39:49.015][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/debug.lua , size = 6.691 KB
[11:39:49.017][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/debug.lua
[11:39:49.017][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/basic.lua , size = 14.849 KB
[11:39:49.022][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/basic.lua
[11:39:49.022][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/string.lua , size = 6.230 KB
[11:39:49.023][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/string.lua
[11:39:49.023][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/builtin.lua , size = 0.302 KB
[11:39:49.024][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/builtin.lua
[11:39:49.024][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/math.lua , size = 7.911 KB
[11:39:49.027][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/math.lua
[11:39:49.027][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/table.lua , size = 4.235 KB
[11:39:49.028][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/table.lua
[11:39:49.028][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:101]: Preload file at: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua , size = 0.004 KB
[11:39:49.029][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:173]: Loaded files takes [0.020] sec: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.029][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:182]: Compile files takes [0.000] sec: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.029][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:183]: Loaded finish: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.029][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:381]: Preload finish at: file:///Users/jeffzi/Projects/personal/lua/llscheck/test.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:379]: Found 10 files at:
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:161]: Load files from disk:
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/io.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/io.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/coroutine.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/coroutine.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/package.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/package.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/os.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/os.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/debug.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/debug.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/basic.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/basic.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/string.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/string.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/builtin.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/builtin.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/math.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/math.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:89]: Skip loaded file: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/table.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:113]: ++++As library of: file:///Users/jeffzi/.cache/lua-language-server/meta/Lua%205.1%20en-us%20utf8/table.lua
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:173]: Loaded files takes [0.000] sec:
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:182]: Compile files takes [0.000] sec:
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/loading.lua:183]: Loaded finish:
[11:39:49.030][info] [#0:script/workspace/workspace.lua:381]: Preload finish at:

[tomlau10]

For the --check argument, you need to provide the workspace directory, NOT the file.
i.e. your cmd should be something like this lua-language-server --check=. (which means the current directory)

I haven't used LuaLS <= v3.8, so I cannot judge why it works before by using the file as argument instead of the directory. Maybe it gets changed in some version between. 😕

---

My team has been using LuaLS in CI recently, and our cmd looks like the following, just as a reference:

${LUALS_PATH}/bin/lua-language-server --check=. --num_threads=2 --checklevel=Error

[jeffzi]

Thanks @tomlau10, passing a workspace directory works perfectly! 🚀

By the way, I’ve created a light tool on top of lua-language-server --check to generate human-friendly reports instead of JSON. It also returns an exit code greater than 0 when issues are detected, making it suitable for CI tools to recognize failures. Additionally, it includes pre-commit support.

If you're interested, you can check it out here: llscheck