Application referencing project default which does not exist

[cari-lynn]

Hey! I was trying to deploy a simple Application with automatic sync, but the default project doesn't exist.

apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: Application
metadata:
  name: simple-app
  namespace: argocd
spec:
  project: default
  # this sync policy will deploy the app without confirmation when changes are detected
  syncPolicy:
    automated: {}
  source:
    repoURL: https://github.com/vmware-tanzu/carvel-simple-app-on-kubernetes.git
    targetRevision: develop
    path: config-step-1-minimal

  destination:
    server: https://kubernetes.default.svc

1. install argocd (and wait until the resources have been applied)
2. Deploy the app kubectl apply --namespace argocd -f simple-app-application.yml
3. Get status via argocd app get simple-app

The Condition reports that the default project doesn't exist.

application.argoproj.io/simple-app created
➜  simple-app git:(develop) ✗ argocd app get simple-app
Name:               simple-app
Project:            default
Server:             https://kubernetes.default.svc
Namespace:
URL:                http://localhost:64019/applications/simple-app
Repo:               https://github.com/vmware-tanzu/carvel-simple-app-on-kubernetes.git
Target:             develop
Path:               config-step-1-minimal
SyncWindow:         Sync Allowed
Sync Policy:        Automated
Sync Status:        Unknown
Health Status:      Unknown

CONDITION         MESSAGE                                                       LAST TRANSITION
InvalidSpecError  Application referencing project default which does not exist  2022-02-06 22:04:49 -0800 PST

If I wait a few minutes, the Application does end up syncing successfully.

I was following the docs that say the default project is automatically created.

Every application belongs to a single project. If unspecified, an application belongs to the default project, which is created automatically and by default, permits deployments from any source repo, to any cluster, and all resource Kinds.

Since there is initially an InvalidSpecError, it appears as though there is an issue. To avoid this should I create the AppProject manually so that it is available right away in my case?

[chetan-rns]

Hi @jannfis @alexmt, to avoid this issue should we check if the default project has been created for the readiness probe of the application controller? Currently, it seems like the readiness probe will always succeed.

argo-cd/controller/appcontroller.go

Line 193 in d0cbb15

return nil

[MalibuKoKo]

Hello,

I have the same issue using server.additionalApplications params from Argo CD Chart values file.

Without automatic sync, application stuck in error: InvalidSpecError - Application referencing project default which does not exist.

If i declare this project into server.additionalProjects parameter i have an other error: ComparisonError - rpc error: code = Unavailable desc = all SubConns are in TransientFailure, latest connection error: connection error: desc = "transport: Error while dialing dial tcp 10.96.206.124:8081: connect: connection refused"

It's a little frustrating, deploy an app during Argocd installation fall immediately in error.

[nastacio]

Are you able to see the project in the Argo UI while the Application is reporting that issue?

[cari-lynn]

In case it helps - I did fix this by applying the default AppProject along with my other configuration. I used this in my blog post. I was not using the UI, just the core version.

---
# this manually creates the default project
apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: AppProject
metadata:
  name: default
  namespace: argocd
spec:
  sourceRepos:
    - '*'
  destinations:
    - namespace: '*'
      server: '*'
  clusterResourceWhitelist:
    - group: '*'
      kind: '*'

[crenshaw-dev]

Keep in mind that this project has extremely open permissions which should be necessary for almost every application.

[vyom-soft]

I would like to create another project name & not the default. I tried via crd. I see the same error "Application referencing project myproj which does not exist".

[iam-veeramalla]

+1 ran into same issue

[nthienan]

experiencing the same error @vyom-soft

[GeorgiDimv]

+1 ran into same issue

[piavgh]

in my case, I forgot to add the AppProject declaration inside kustomization.yaml

[behniafb]

Same case.
I want to deploy all my OTHER AppProjects using an ApplicationSet, but all of my generated Applications give this error:

Application referencing project default which does not exist

[joebowbeer]

Should a docs issue be created and pointed to this discussion?

The docs says the default project is created automatically, but that clearly is not happening, as least for ApplicationSet.

Furthermore, the docs say that if a project is not specified then the default project is used, but the project field seems to be required in the ApplicationSet template.

[stufently]

any solution? time to time get this error, when run manual sync

[cmoulliard]

This issue still exist with new version of Argocd no matter if you create application(s) pointing to a new project or the default

This what I do

cat << EOF | kubectl applyf -f -
apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: AppProject
metadata:
  name: guestbook
  namespace: cmoullia
spec:
  clusterResourceWhitelist:
    - group: '*'
      kind: '*'
  destinations:
    - namespace: '*'
      server: '*'
  sourceRepos:
    - '*'
  sourceNamespaces:
    - '*'
---
apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: Application
metadata:
  name: bootstrap-app
  namespace: cmoullia
spec:
  destination:
    name: in-cluster
  project: guestbook
  source:
    path: apps
    repoURL: https://github.com/ch007m/my-argocd.git
    targetRevision: HEAD
  syncPolicy:
    automated:
      selfHeal: true
    syncOptions:
      - CreateNamespace=true

but got this error reported by the Application CR EVEN if the AppProject is well created

status:
  conditions:
  - lastTransitionTime: "2024-12-11T09:11:00Z"
    message: Application referencing project guestbook which does not exist
    type: InvalidSpecError
  health:
    status: Unknown
  sync:
    status: Unknown

[cmoulliard]

There is an issue as that works if you create 2 AppProjects. Change within the following YAML the namespace cmoulia with yours

https://gist.github.com/cmoulliard/27db98ed7e625b8394480e518e57925f

[cmoulliard]

I created an issue: #21150