[spark-compete] fix: load_module crashes on missing or malformed spark.toml

[yossweh]

[spark-compete] fix: load_module crashes on missing or malformed spark.toml

PR Author: yossweh
Repo: vibeforge1111/spark-cli
Team: hellenagent (hellen, yossweh, exelchapo)

---

actual_behavior

load_module calls manifest_path.read_text() and tomllib.loads() without any error handling. If spark.toml is missing, FileNotFoundError propagates as an unhandled traceback. If the file contains invalid TOML, tomllib.TOMLDecodeError also propagates as an unhandled traceback.

expected_behavior

load_module should catch FileNotFoundError, PermissionError, and TOMLDecodeError, then raise SystemExit with a clear, actionable message identifying the missing or malformed manifest path.

repro_steps

1. Create a module directory without a spark.toml file.
2. Run spark module load <that directory>.
3. Observe an unhandled FileNotFoundError traceback instead of a clear error message.
4. Create a module directory with a spark.toml containing invalid TOML syntax.
5. Run spark module load <that directory>.
6. Observe an unhandled TOMLDecodeError traceback instead of a clear error message.

before_after_proof

Before: unhandled FileNotFoundError or TOMLDecodeError traceback on missing/malformed spark.toml. After: SystemExit with clear message like 'Module manifest not found: ' or 'Invalid TOML in module manifest : '.

tests_or_smoke

Run spark module load against a directory with no spark.toml and verify a clean SystemExit message. Run against a directory with malformed spark.toml and verify the same. Confirm normal module loading still works.

duplicate_notes

Files touched by this PR: src/spark_cli/cli.py — exclusively the load_module function (lines ~1796–1809), wrapping manifest_path.read_text() and tomllib.loads() in try/except.

Why no other PR covers this fix:

• PR [spark-compete] fix: TOCTOU race in atomic_write_json symlink check #273 touches src/spark_cli/cli.py but modifies atomic_write_json (line ~1779) — a completely different function dealing with JSON file writes, not TOML manifest parsing.
• PR [spark-compete] fix: silent uv pip to python -m pip rewrite without warning #275 touches src/spark_cli/cli.py but modifies install_command_argv (line ~5931) — the uv-pip rewrite branch, unrelated to module loading.
• PR [spark-compete] fix: enforce approval for setup identity mutations #334 touches src/spark_cli/cli.py but modifies setup identity mutation approval — different function, different concern.
• PR [spark-compete] fix: handle ValueError from shlex.split on malformed quotes #331 touches src/spark_cli/cli.py but handles shlex.split ValueError — different function, different error domain.
• PR [spark-compete] Gracefully handle provider API and connection errors in doctor tool #415 adds error handling in the doctor tool for provider API/connection errors — not module manifest parsing.
• PR [spark-compete] fix(secrets): spark setup regenerates plaintext API keys in .env that spark fix secrets cannot permanently remove #436 fixes spark setup regenerating plaintext API keys — the setup flow, not module loading.
• PR [spark-compete] fix: skip modules with missing path in collect_status_payload #338 fixes collect_status_payload for modules with missing paths — a status-collection function, not the load path.

What this PR uniquely fixes: This is the only PR that adds try/except handling around the manifest_path.read_text() and tomllib.loads() calls in load_module. No other open PR touches the load_module function at all. Without this PR, any missing or malformed spark.toml produces an unhandled traceback that confuses users instead of a clean actionable error message. The fix is necessary because module loading is a first-run entry point — new users hitting raw tracebacks on a missing manifest is a poor onboarding experience that no other PR addresses.

risk_notes

No secrets, CI workflows, dependency files, prompt surfaces, or private owner routing changed. The fix only adds error handling around an existing file read; control flow and data paths are unchanged.

review_claim

• impact_claim: high
• evidence_types: redacted_terminal_excerpt, smoke_test
• review_state_requested: pr_review

---

Spark Compete Packet

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[vibeforge1111]

Spark Compete reset status: Gate review still pending.

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[yossweh]

Updated this PR body to match the public Spark Compete reset template more closely:

• added a valid spark-compete-hotfix-v1 packet shape
• filled branch / repo / owner-surface fields
• replaced placeholder test text with bounded verification notes
• added duplicate-search notes referencing adjacent PRs and reset issue Spark CLI competition PR reset instructions #295
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[vibeforge1111]

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[vibeforge1111]

Spark Compete duplicate/material-value review: this PR needs a clearer material-new-value claim before it can move past duplicate review.

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[vibeforge1111]

Spark Compete review status

PR: #277
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[vibeforge1111]

Covered by maintainer adoption spark-cli#748, merged 2026-06-02 at ad42249. The adopted R24 carrier includes clear missing/unreadable/malformed spark.toml module-manifest errors with focused tests and green hosted checks. This source PR remains background/private for credit review with public points 0 until packet/account/duplicate/security/lab/publish gates clear; closing as represented, not as a direct-merge vehicle.

[vibeforge1111]

R24 final scoring update: this source PR did receive R24 leaderboard credit. The earlier "public points 0 until gates clear" note described the pre-final review state, not a final rejection or permanent zero. Final R24 credit for this source PR: 68 points, represented by spark-cli#748. Thanks for the useful contribution.