Common errors

What messages mean and what to try first. Most fixes are under Connections (Connections or Hub tab) or Settings.

Hub and registration

Can’t connect or register with a hub

The Add button on Connections → Hub may be disabled, or adding a hub returns an error about updates or integrity.

Fix: Install the latest official node release — Settings → Social → Check for updates (Updates). Hubs require a current, unmodified node.php from talesmith.studio (integrity check). After updating, reload the page, then try Add again.

Typical messages:

  • Update to the latest version before registering with a hub.
  • Install the official Talesmith node update first.
  • node.php has been modified. Restore the official release before registering with a hub.

Local XAMPP/dev installs skip some of these checks; production hosting does not.

Hub connection is broken or “Hub sync failed”

Your node could not reach the hub or the hub rejected the request (wrong URL, hub down, TLS, or registration no longer valid).

Fix:

  • Confirm the hub URL is correct (…/hub.php on a real Talesmith hub).
  • Open Connections → Hub and click Refresh hub listing (sends your profile to registered hubs and refreshes status).
  • If it still fails, check outbound HTTPS from your host (Host requirements) and that the hub site is online.

My hub profile is out of date (name, avatar, title on the directory)

You changed profile or theme on the node but the public hub directory still shows old info.

Fix: Connections → Hub → Refresh hub listing. That pushes your current name, title, and avatar to every hub you registered with.

You can also change category on that tab; saving may sync to hubs automatically when you are registered.

Waiting for hub approval

Plugins or hub features say the hub is still waiting to accept your node.

Fix: On the hub site (as hub owner/admin), open pending nodes and accept registration. Until then, your node shows as handshake pending on the hub side.

Could not load hub plugins

Marketplace or plugins view is empty or shows an error about registration.

Fix: Register with that hub on Connections → Hub, complete hub approval if needed, then Refresh hub listing or reload the page. Enable plugins under Settings / hub plugins for that hub.

Connections (other nodes)

Waiting for handshake / Could not complete the handshake

You added another node’s feed URL but trust is not established yet. The remote node must be online and respond to the handshake.

Fix: Wait a minute and open Connections again (the list may show Waiting for handshake). Ensure the URL is correct (node.php or ?feed=json). Ask the other operator to keep their node up and on a current Talesmith version.

Update your node and try again

A remote node rejected your handshake because their software is too old to complete the modern handshake.

Fix: You cannot fix this on your node alone—the other site must update node.php. If you see this when they connect to you, update your node from Settings → Social.

Invalid feed URL

The URL in Add connection is not a valid Talesmith feed address.

Fix: Use https://…/node.php or https://…/node.php?feed=json. No typos, no non-Talesmith blogs.

You cannot add your own node as a connection

Fix: Use Connections only for other people’s nodes.

Updates and backups

No update available / Could not download the update

Fix: Confirm ZipArchive and outbound HTTPS (Host requirements). Use the stable channel unless you intend to use the test channel. See Updates.

Reload the page to finish updating

Files installed but the browser still runs old JavaScript.

Fix: Hard refresh or reload after Install completes.

Could not create backup / Restore failed

Fix: Writable data/, ZipArchive, and enough disk space. See Backups.

Setup and hosting

data folder could not be prepared / not writable

Fix: Create or chmod data/ beside node.php (often 775). Use Check host on setup (Host requirements).

Check host shows ✗ on required items

Fix: Enable missing PHP extensions or raise limits on your host before relying on plugins, updates, or image uploads.

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