BUG: Buffer with this name already exists

[SparrowMike]

Did you check docs and existing issues?

• I have read all the docs.
• I have searched the existing issues.
• I have searched the existing discussions.

Neovim Version (nvim -v)

NVIM v0.9.5

Operating System / Version

macOS - 14.2.1

Describe the Bug

When loading into a previous session that had neo-tree enabled I simply get the a blank window, whenever I toggle the neo-tree I get another blank window followed by a error:

[Neo-tree ERROR] debounce filesystem_navigate error: ...are/nvim/lazy/neo-tree.nvim/lua/neo-tree/ui/renderer.lua:1045: Vim:E95: Buffer with this name already exists

I believe the issue has something to do with auto-sessions as disabling it makes the problem go away.

Screenshots, Traceback

The first image is loading into a session and the blank window on the right is what I think should be the neo-tree

At the bottom of the screen the error can be seen - it was triggered by the hotkey that I used to enable the neo-tree window, there is also an additional window, I believe this is where neo-tree tries to load into but its buffer already exists?

Steps to Reproduce

1. neo-tree and auto-session plugin installed
2. open any project, have some files open as well as neo-tree enabled
3. close session with some file and neo-tree enabled
4. open up the session

Expected Behavior

No errors?

Your Configuration

My neo-tree
{
    "nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim",
    branch = "v3.x",
    dependencies = {
        "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim",
        "nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons", -- not strictly required, but recommended
        "MunifTanjim/nui.nvim",
        -- "3rd/image.nvim", -- Optional image support in preview window: See `# Preview Mode` for more information
        -- {
        "s1n7ax/nvim-window-picker",
        version = "2.*",
        config = function()
            require("window-picker").setup({
                filter_rules = {
                    include_current_win = false,
                    autoselect_one = true,
                    -- filter using buffer options
                    bo = {
                        -- if the file type is one of following, the window will be ignored
                        filetype = { "neo-tree", "neo-tree-popup", "notify" },
                        -- if the buffer type is one of following, the window will be ignored
                        buftype = { "terminal", "quickfix" },
                    },
                },
            })
        end,
    },
    config = function()
        local config = require("neo-tree")
        config.setup({
            event_handlers = {
                {
                    event = "neo_tree_buffer_enter",
                    handler = function(arg)
                        vim.cmd([[setlocal relativenumber]])
                    end,
                },
            },
            window = {
                position = "right",
            },
            filesystem = {
                follow_current_file = {
                    enabled = false, -- This will find and focus the file in the active buffer every time
                },
                filtered_items = {
                    hide_dotfiles = false,
                },
            },
        })

        vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-B>", ":Neotree source=filesystem toggle position=right<CR>")
        vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-G>", ":Neotree float git_status<CR>")
    end,
}


auto-session
{
        'rmagatti/auto-session',
        config = function()
            require("auto-session").setup {
                log_level = "error",
                auto_session_suppress_dirs = { "~/", "~/Projects", "~/Downloads", "/"},
            }
        end
    }

[pysan3]

Please revise your config. I think you pasted neo-tree config twice.

Also please update the issue title like other issues.

[SparrowMike]

Thanks @pysan3, that was fast! Hopefully all is clear now.

[josephcrawfordSRH]

I am also seeing this issue. I am simply using LazyVim without any modifications to the neo-tree configuration and the auto-session plugin with the following configuration.

return {
  "rmagatti/auto-session",
  config = function()
    require("auto-session").setup({
      auto_session_last_session_dir = vim.fn.stdpath("data") .. "/sessions/",
      auto_session_root_dir = vim.fn.stdpath("data") .. "/sessions/",
      auto_session_enabled = true,
      log_level = vim.log.levels.ERROR,
      auto_session_suppress_dirs = { "~/", "~/Projects", "~/Downloads", "/" },
      auto_save_enabled = true,
      auto_session_create_enabled = true,
      session_lens = {
        buftypes_to_ignore = {},
        load_on_setup = true,
        theme_conf = { border = true },
        previewer = false,
      },
    })

    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ls", require("auto-session.session-lens").search_session, {
      noremap = true,
    })
  end,
}

I have also seen other issues where if I use the pre_restore_cmds = { "Neotree close", "Neotree focus" } when i switch projects it opens Neotree full screen. I have been trying to get the auto-session plugin to work with neo-tree for a few days now without any success. What I would like to see is that when I jump sessions the tree is open at the current session directory.

AutoSessions does have an example of how to make it work with nvim-tree in their README but I am unsure how I can make this work with neo-tree

local function restore_nvim_tree()
    local nvim_tree = require('nvim-tree')
    nvim_tree.change_dir(vim.fn.getcwd())
    nvim_tree.refresh()
end

require('auto-session').setup {
    pre_restore_cmds = {restore_nvim_tree}
}

[pysan3]

Could you test this option and see if it works?

#779

[SparrowMike]

Could you test this option and see if it works?

#779

Thanks @pysan3, adding auto_clean_after_session_restore = true kinda solved the problem, but at the same time introduce another.

Basically what happens now is - if neo-tree was open in previous sessions, after reopening nvim its pane gets simply closed (this can be seen in action for a split second).

It would be nice to still keep the neo-tree open if that was the case in the previous session, however I'm ok with this solution for now, I guess next step would be to explore auto-session readme as mentioned by @josephcrawfordSRH, unless some additional configuration could be added on neo-tree side?

[pysan3]

@SparrowMike Thanks for testing!

Unfortunately no, there is no way to auto-restore neo-tree state since we can adjust the position (left, right etc) and source (filesystem, buffers etc) dynamically, we cannot tell which and where neo-tree was with only the buffer name (and this is the only clue autosession will restore for us).

Spoiler alert, I will make it possible with the new re-write.

[pysan3]

EDIT: please see #1366 (comment) instead. Below is old info so plz ignore.

---

Nah just do it now lol.

#1366

Could you test it out? @SparrowMike

return {
  "pysan3/neo-tree.nvim",
  branch = "restore-session-experimental",
  version = false,
  opts = {
    auto_restore_session_experimental = true,
    -- ...

Caution:

You need to have blank set to sessionoptions like it is said here.
https://github.com/rmagatti/auto-session?tab=readme-ov-file#recommended-sessionoptions-config

For the case of vimscript, set sessionoptions+=blank. Idk much about lua.

Caution2:

It will be wonky (or not work at all) when you set the default neo-tree position to float or current.

Caution3:

If you had more than one neo-tree sources opened, only one of them will be respected, with filesystem being most prioritized.

[SparrowMike]

Thanks @pysan3 for going extra mile, I followed all the steps as described however the results are the same.

I will give it another go on my other machine at home, will let you know if results are different.

cheers!

[josephcrawfordSRH]

I am still seeing quite a few issues here, I am attaching a screen recording. Notice that sometimes neo-tree opens full screen, other times it opens but the cwd is from the previous project. Also notice there are tabs open for the session directory and sometimes [No Name].

This is my config for neo-tree, outside of using the default implementation from LazyVim

return {
  "nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim",
  opts = {
    auto_clean_after_session_restore = false,
  },
}

This is my auto-session configuration

return {
  "rmagatti/auto-session",
  config = function()
    require("auto-session").setup({
      auto_session_last_session_dir = vim.fn.stdpath("data") .. "/sessions/",
      auto_session_root_dir = vim.fn.stdpath("data") .. "/sessions/",
      auto_session_enabled = true,
      log_level = vim.log.levels.ERROR,
      auto_session_suppress_dirs = { "~/", "~/Projects", "~/Downloads", "/" },
      auto_save_enabled = true,
      auto_session_create_enabled = true,
      session_lens = {
        buftypes_to_ignore = {},
        load_on_setup = true,
        theme_conf = { border = true },
        previewer = false,
      },
    })

    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ls", require("auto-session.session-lens").search_session, {
      noremap = true,
    })
  end,
}

[josephcrawfordSRH]

Screen.Recording.2024-02-28.at.9.16.04.AM.mp4

[pysan3]

@josephcrawfordSRH

Thanks for testing but you should switch the repo to my fork and change the branch name.

You are testing nothing as this has not yet landed to neo-tree's main branch...

return {
  "pysan3/neo-tree.nvim",
  branch = "restore-session-experimental",
  version = false,
  opts = {
    auto_restore_session_experimental = true,
    -- ...

And could you move a bit more slowly, or please describe what you are doing.

Your screen capture is just flashing and constantly moving that I cannot tell what and what not you are testing...

[pysan3]

@josephcrawfordSRH

May I ask you to give me your feedbacks in this thread next time?

#1366

[josephcrawfordSRH]

@pysan3 apologies, I will use that thread from now on. I will also make a new screen recording slowing things down so that you can see what i am doing. I will also test using your fork and branch