AppImage breaks itself every time it's re-opened

[DrCyanide]

Describe the bug

Every time I open the AppImage, it asks me for the directory I'd like to use. This isn't just annoying, it actually breaks the app.

On the first run everything is fine, and I can install models and generate 3D meshes just fine.

Closing the app and re-open it causes it to ask for a directory. Selecting the same directory as the first run results in the app re-initializing and installing dependencies. When it finishes setting up it displays "Extension is unavailable. Reload extensions or remove the node." Going to the Extensions shows a the models are marked as an incomplete install. Clicking the repair button instantly fails, with a longer error message.

Possibly related: I was having issues with a custom directory, typing in /home/username/modly/data. I couldn't get it to generate models at all then, but it's possible the issue was due to me closing the program to do something else between download and generation.

Steps to reproduce

1. Download the AppImage from the release. Run it, install Hunyuan3D 2 Mini Turbo, generate some models to ensure it's working right.
2. Close the app.
3. Reopen the app. Notice that it's prompting for the directory again. Provide it, and notice it re-initiates.
4. Try to generate a model. This fails for me every time.
5. Go to extensions and try to repair the model. Get another error message.

Modly version

0.4.2

Operating system

Kubuntu 25.10

Screenshots & logs

Error Log:

[2026-08-29T19:16:15.999Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.890Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.890Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.942Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.942Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.298Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.298Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.

Runtime Log

[2026-08-29T19:16:15.839Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] MODELS_DIR     = /home/username/Documents/Modly/models
[Registry] WORKSPACE_DIR  = /home/username/Documents/Modly/workspace
[Registry] EXTENSIONS_DIR = /home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions
[2026-08-29T19:16:15.999Z] [RUNTIME] [stderr] INFO:     Started server process [325366]
INFO:     Waiting for application startup.
[2026-08-29T19:16:15.999Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:16:15.999Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[2026-08-29T19:16:15.999Z] [RUNTIME] [stderr] INFO:     Application startup complete.
[2026-08-29T19:16:16.000Z] [RUNTIME] [stderr] INFO:     Uvicorn running on http://127.0.0.1:8765 (Press CTRL+C to quit)
[2026-08-29T19:16:16.166Z] [RUNTIME] INFO:     127.0.0.1:36634 - "GET /health HTTP/1.1" 200 OK
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.889Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Reloading extensions...
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.889Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.890Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.890Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.890Z] [RUNTIME] INFO:     127.0.0.1:37082 - "POST /extensions/reload HTTP/1.1" 200 OK
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.941Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Reloading extensions...
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.942Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.942Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.942Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.942Z] [RUNTIME] INFO:     127.0.0.1:37082 - "POST /extensions/reload HTTP/1.1" 200 OK
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.245Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Reloading extensions...
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.246Z] [RUNTIME] INFO:     127.0.0.1:44266 - "POST /extensions/reload HTTP/1.1" 200 OK
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.297Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Reloading extensions...
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.298Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Extension 'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo' has an incomplete installation or interrupted runtime registration. Restart Modly to recover it, or click 'Repair' on the Models page.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.298Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] Node 'trellis2/generate' needs setup (venv missing)
[Registry] Node 'trellis2/refine' needs setup (venv missing)
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.298Z] [RUNTIME] [Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/generate': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] ERROR: Failed to instantiate generator 'trellis2/refine': venv not found — extension needs setup. Click 'Repair' on the Models page to run setup.py.
[Registry] WARNING: No extensions found.
[Registry] Reload complete.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.298Z] [RUNTIME] INFO:     127.0.0.1:44266 - "POST /extensions/reload HTTP/1.1" 200 OK

App logs

[2026-08-29T19:16:00.933Z] [INFO] App started — version 0.4.2
[2026-08-29T19:16:01.264Z] [INFO] [builtin-sync] Built-in extensions synced to /home/username/.config/Modly/builtin-extensions
[2026-08-29T19:16:01.270Z] [INFO] Checking for update
[2026-08-29T19:16:02.676Z] [INFO] Update for version 0.4.2 is not available (latest version: 0.4.2, downgrade is disallowed).
[2026-08-29T19:16:02.677Z] [INFO] [updater] App is up to date
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.932Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/venv/bin/python3.11'
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] Traceback (most recent call last):
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<string>", line 93, in <module>
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<frozen runpy>", line 291, in run_path
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<frozen runpy>", line 98, in _run_module_code
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<frozen runpy>", line 88, in _run_code
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/setup.py", line 144, in <module>
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]     setup(
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/setup.py", line 54, in setup
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]     subprocess.run([python_exe, "-m", "venv", str(venv)], check=True)
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.935Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<string>", line 74, in _patched_run
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.936Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "/home/username/.config/Modly/python-embed/lib/python3.11/subprocess.py", line 571, in run
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.936Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]     raise CalledProcessError(retcode, process.args,
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.936Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] subprocess.CalledProcessError: Command '['/home/username/.config/Modly/venv/bin/python', '-m', 'venv', '/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/venv']' returned non-zero exit status 1.
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.936Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] [setup] accelerator=cuda  gpu_sm=86
[2026-08-29T19:16:32.936Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] [setup] Creating venv at /home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/venv …
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.288Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/venv/bin/python3.11'
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] Traceback (most recent call last):
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<string>", line 93, in <module>
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<frozen runpy>", line 291, in run_path
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<frozen runpy>", line 98, in _run_module_code
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<frozen runpy>", line 88, in _run_code
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/setup.py", line 144, in <module>
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]     setup(
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/setup.py", line 54, in setup
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]     subprocess.run([python_exe, "-m", "venv", str(venv)], check=True)
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "<string>", line 74, in _patched_run
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]   File "/home/username/.config/Modly/python-embed/lib/python3.11/subprocess.py", line 571, in run
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair]     raise CalledProcessError(retcode, process.args,
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] subprocess.CalledProcessError: Command '['/home/username/.config/Modly/venv/bin/python', '-m', 'venv', '/home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/venv']' returned non-zero exit status 1.
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] [setup] accelerator=cuda  gpu_sm=86
[2026-08-29T19:18:04.291Z] [INFO] [ext-repair] [setup] Creating venv at /home/username/Documents/Modly/extensions/hunyuan3d-mini-turbo/venv …

Confirmation

• I have searched existing issues and this has not been reported yet.
• I can reproduce this on the latest version of Modly.