npm installing to global gives Error: ENOENT, No such file or directory

[jonathan-kosgei]

• Version:v6.5.0
• Platform:Linux dc22fc779d21 4.4.0-36-generic Proposal: Move isaacs/readable-stream to iojs and make it the authoratative source #55-Ubuntu SMP Thu Aug 11 18:01:55 UTC 2016 x86_64 Linux
• Subsystem:npm

I'm running node/npm in a chroot on alpine linux.

I get the following error installing to global with the following command:

/ # chroot /ns npm install pm2@latest -g
Error: ENOENT, No such file or directory
    at /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/uid-number/uid-number.js:49:16
    at ChildProcess.exithandler (child_process.js:197:7)
    at emitTwo (events.js:106:13)
    at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:191:7)
    at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:877:16)
    at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:226:5)

/ # chroot /ns npm install pm2@latest 
npm ERR! makeDirectory homeless?
npm ERR! Linux 4.4.0-36-generic
npm ERR! argv "node" "/usr/bin/npm" "install" "pm2@latest"
npm ERR! node v6.5.0
npm ERR! npm  v3.10.3

npm ERR! Cannot read property 'uid' of undefined
npm ERR! 
npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
npm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
^C

This works:

/ # chroot /ns npm install pm2
....install....
npm WARN optional Skipping failed optional dependency /pm2/chokidar/fsevents:
npm WARN notsup Not compatible with your operating system or architecture: fsevents@1.0.14
npm WARN enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '/package.json'
npm WARN !invalid#1 No description
npm WARN !invalid#1 No repository field.
npm WARN !invalid#1 No README data
npm WARN !invalid#1 No license field.

[gibfahn]

This seems like an npm issue, if so could you raise an issue directly with npm (i.e. here)?

If you think this is a node specific problem, feel free to reply on this thread.

[imyller]

It's true that this is npm issue, but since we ship npm as part of Node.js I'm trying to help out:

You should try running npm with --unsafe-perm flag which suppresses the UID/GID switching when running package scripts.

npm ERR! Cannot read property 'uid' of undefined is raised because your chrooted environment /etc/passwd file does not contain the uid npm is trying to switch to.

So, two possible workarounds:

• Create appropriate user/group /etc/passwd and /etc/group to your chroot
• Use --unsafe-perm flag with npm

[jonathan-kosgei]

@imyller You're right about the /etc/passwd & /etc/group. I was previously using touch to creating them but now I'm copying them over to the chroot and the second case chroot /ns npm install pm2@latest works.

Running npm with -g and --unsafe-perm , the following works as well!

/ # chroot /ns npm install pm2@latest -g --unsafe-perm

Why does using --unsafe-perm work? I'm I missing some basic configuration in the chroot environment that npm needs?

Also, what does npm WARN notsup Not compatible with your operating system or architecture: fsevents@1.0.14 mean?

Thanks!

[imyller]

Why does using --unsafe-perm work? I'm I missing some basic configuration in the chroot environment that npm needs?

It works because with that flag npm does not need to access /etc/passwd or /etc/group files at all. UID/GID switching is disabled.

As I said earlier, you can alternatively create dummy passwd/group files with appropriate system users.