Failure to convert IDL code to Anchor: Unrecognized subcommand

The Anchor CLI IDL convert command has been reported to fail when attempting to convert IDL code within an existing Anchor project. The issue arises because the idl convert command is run within a new isolated workspace or library.

Why the issue occurs

When running the IDL convert command within a new isolated workspace or library, the anchor CLI may fail to detect the existing Anchor project and its associated configurations. This is due to the way Anchors manage their internal state and dependencies.

Workarounds and solutions

To solve this problem, consider the following workarounds:

1.
Use the --idl-in-project option

Instead of running the IDL convert command directly from a new workspace or library, try specifying the -idl-in-project option followed by the path to your existing Anchor project.

Example:

anchor --idl-in-project /path/to/your/project --idl-out /path/to/output

This will convert the IDL code in the specified project without creating a separate workspace or library.

2.
Create an Anchor project with --idl-in-project

If you need to perform multiple IDL conversions within the same existing project, consider creating an Anchor project using the anchor init command and then running the IDL convert commands on that project.

Example:

Create an Anchor project
anchor init /path/to/your/project

Change to the project directory
cd /path/to/your/project

Convert the IDL code
idl convert -o /path/to/output.idl --idl-in-project /path/to/your/project

This approach creates a new, isolated workspace within the existing Anchor project.

3.
Use anchor deps to automate dependency management

Another possible solution is to use anchor deps to automate dependency management between projects and their IDL code. This can help ensure that the correct dependencies are included when converting IDL code.

To enable anchor deps, run:

anchor deps init --all --idl-in-project /path/to/your/project

This will create a new anchor project with the necessary dependencies handled automatically.

Conclusion

Converting IDL code into an existing anchor project can be tricky, and the idl convert command may not work as expected. Using one of these workarounds, you should be able to resolve the issue and successfully convert your IDL code into the context of your existing anchor project.

Example Use Cases

• Create a new anchor project with multiple IDL translations

• Automate dependency management between projects and their IDL code

Exploring these options can help you overcome common challenges when working with anchor and IDL translations.