Issues you might encounter when using Exponent, and solutions to help you get back on track quickly.

Installation Issues

Installation Methods

The recommended installation method is the one-line installer:

curl -LsSf https://exponent.run/install.sh | sh

If you’re having trouble with the one-line installer or prefer using a different installation method, you can try one of these alternatives. They require a working Python installation on your system.

Python Version Issues

Exponent requires Python 3.10 or higher. If you encounter errors about incompatible Python versions:

  1. Check your Python version:

    python --version
    
  2. Install a compatible Python version:

  3. Use a Python version manager like pyenv if you need to maintain multiple Python versions.

Dependency Conflicts

If you’re experiencing Python dependency conflicts with Exponent:

  1. Use pipx: Install Exponent with pipx to keep it in an isolated environment:

    pip install pipx
    pipx install exponent-run
    
  2. Create a virtual environment: If you prefer virtual environments:

    python -m venv exponent-env
    source exponent-env/bin/activate  # On Windows: exponent-env\Scripts\activate
    pip install exponent-run
    
  3. Clean up cached packages: If you’re still having issues:

    pip cache purge
    pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall exponent-run
    

Connection Issues

Exponent shows “Disconnected” status

If you see a “Disconnected” status in the web interface, try these steps:

  1. Check your terminal session: Verify that the terminal where you ran exponent run is still active. If it was closed or the process was terminated, the connection is lost.

  2. Reconnect to your chat: You can reconnect to an existing chat using:

    exponent run --chat-id <your-chat-id>
    

    Find your chat ID from:

    • The reconnect message above the text input box in the Exponent web interface
    • The URL of your chat session: https://exponent.run/chats/<your-chat-id>
    • The terminal output when you first ran exponent runin the the reconnect
  3. Restart the CLI: If reconnecting doesn’t work, try restarting the Exponent CLI with a fresh session:

    exponent run
    
  4. Check your internet connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as Exponent requires connectivity to function.

SSL/TLS Certificate Issues

If you encounter SSL certificate errors:

  1. Update your system’s certificate store: Your system might have outdated certificates.

  2. Proxy interference: If you’re behind a corporate proxy or firewall, it might be intercepting SSL connections. Talk to your IT department about allowing connections to exponent.run.

Authentication Issues

API Key Problems

If you’re having trouble authenticating with your API key:

  1. Get a fresh API key: Visit exponent.run/settings to view or reset your API key.

  2. Re-login with your key:

    exponent login --key <your-api-key>
    
  3. Check your network: Ensure your network allows connections to the Exponent API servers.

Getting More Help

If you’re still encountering issues not covered in this guide: