---
summary: Node + tsx "__name is not a function" crash notes and workarounds
read_when:
  - Debugging Node-only dev scripts or watch mode failures
  - Investigating tsx/esbuild loader crashes in OpenClaw
title: "Node + tsx Crash"
---

# Node + tsx "\_\_name is not a function" crash

## Summary

Running OpenClaw via Node with `tsx` fails at startup with:

```
[openclaw] Failed to start CLI: TypeError: __name is not a function
    at createSubsystemLogger (.../src/logging/subsystem.ts:203:25)
    at .../src/agents/auth-profiles/constants.ts:25:20
```

This began after switching dev scripts from Bun to `tsx` (commit `2871657e`, 2026-01-06). The same runtime path worked with Bun.

## Environment

- Node: v25.x (observed on v25.3.0)
- tsx: 4.21.0
- OS: macOS (repro also likely on other platforms that run Node 25)

## Repro (Node-only)

```bash
# in repo root
node --version
pnpm install
node --import tsx src/entry.ts status
```

## Minimal repro in repo

```bash
node --import tsx scripts/repro/tsx-name-repro.ts
```

## Node version check

- Node 25.3.0: fails
- Node 22.22.0 (Homebrew `node@22`): fails
- Node 24: not installed here yet; needs verification

## Notes / hypothesis

- `tsx` uses esbuild to transform TS/ESM. esbuild’s `keepNames` emits a `__name` helper and wraps function definitions with `__name(...)`.
- The crash indicates `__name` exists but is not a function at runtime, which implies the helper is missing or overwritten for this module in the Node 25 loader path.
- Similar `__name` helper issues have been reported in other esbuild consumers when the helper is missing or rewritten.

## Regression history

- `2871657e` (2026-01-06): scripts changed from Bun to tsx to make Bun optional.
- Before that (Bun path), `openclaw status` and `gateway:watch` worked.

## Workarounds

- Use Bun for dev scripts (current temporary revert).
- Use `tsgo` for repo type checking, then run the built output:

  ```bash
  pnpm tsgo
  node openclaw.mjs status
  ```

- Historical note: `tsc` was used here while debugging this Node/tsx issue, but repo type-check lanes now use `tsgo`.
- Disable esbuild keepNames in the TS loader if possible (prevents `__name` helper insertion); tsx does not currently expose this.
- Test Node LTS (22/24) with `tsx` to see if the issue is Node 25–specific.

## References

- [https://opennext.js.org/cloudflare/howtos/keep_names](https://opennext.js.org/cloudflare/howtos/keep_names)
- [https://esbuild.github.io/api/#keep-names](https://esbuild.github.io/api/#keep-names)
- [https://github.com/evanw/esbuild/issues/1031](https://github.com/evanw/esbuild/issues/1031)

## Next steps

- Repro on Node 22/24 to confirm Node 25 regression.
- Test `tsx` nightly or pin to earlier version if a known regression exists.
- If reproduces on Node LTS, file a minimal repro upstream with the `__name` stack trace.
