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Node.js & npm Troubleshooting

This guide helps you resolve common Node.js and npm issues that may occur during Forge installation.

Permission Errors with npm​

If you encounter permission errors when installing Forge globally, here are the recommended solutions:

Solution 1: Use a Node.js Version Manager (Recommended)​

Using a Node.js version manager like nvm is the safest and most reliable approach:

For macOS and Linux:

# Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash

# Restart your terminal or reload your profile
source ~/.bashrc # or ~/.zshrc for zsh users

# Install and use the latest Node.js
nvm install node
nvm use node

# Now install Forge
npm i -g forgecode@latest

For Windows:

# Install nvm-windows from: https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows
# Then in a new command prompt:
nvm install latest
nvm use latest
npm i -g forgecode@latest

Solution 2: Configure npm to Use a Different Directory​

If you prefer not to use a version manager, configure npm to install global packages in your home directory:

# Create a directory for global packages
mkdir ~/.npm-global

# Configure npm to use the new directory
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'

# Add the new directory to your PATH
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
# For zsh users, use ~/.zshrc instead of ~/.bashrc

# Reload your profile
source ~/.bashrc # or source ~/.zshrc

# Now install Forge
npm i -g forgecode@latest

What NOT to Do​

❌ Never use sudo npm install -g - This can lead to:

  • Permission issues with future npm operations
  • Security vulnerabilities
  • Ownership conflicts with system files
  • Difficult-to-debug installation problems

Command Not Found Errors​

If the forge command is not recognized after installation:

Check Your Installation​

# Verify npm installed the package
npm list -g forgecode

# Check where npm installs global packages
npm config get prefix

Fix PATH Issues​

# Check if npm's global bin directory is in your PATH
echo $PATH

# Find where npm installs global binaries
npm config get prefix

# Add npm's bin directory to your PATH if missing
export PATH=$(npm config get prefix)/bin:$PATH

Alternative: Use npx​

If you continue having PATH issues, you can always use npx:

npx forgecode@latest

Node.js Version Issues​

Check Your Node.js Version​

node --version
npm --version

Forge requires:

  • Node.js: Version 16.0 or later
  • npm: Version 7.0 or later

Update Node.js​

If your Node.js version is too old:

Using nvm (recommended):

nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts

Direct download: Visit nodejs.org and download the latest LTS version.

npm Cache Issues​

If you encounter strange installation errors, try clearing the npm cache:

# Clear npm cache
npm cache clean --force

# Verify cache is clean
npm cache verify

# Try installing again
npm i -g forgecode@latest

Network and Proxy Issues​

Corporate Networks​

If you're behind a corporate firewall:

# Configure npm proxy settings
npm config set proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
npm config set https-proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080

# If authentication is required
npm config set proxy http://username:password@proxy.company.com:8080

Registry Issues​

If you're having trouble reaching the npm registry:

# Check current registry
npm config get registry

# Reset to default registry
npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org/

# Or try using a different registry
npm config set registry https://registry.npmmirror.com/

Platform-Specific Issues​

Windows​

  • Ensure you're using Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator if needed
  • Consider using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) for a more Unix-like environment
  • Make sure Windows Defender isn't blocking npm operations

macOS​

  • If using Homebrew-installed Node.js, ensure proper permissions
  • Check that Xcode Command Line Tools are installed: xcode-select --install

Linux​

  • Ensure you have build tools installed: sudo apt-get install build-essential (Ubuntu/Debian)
  • Check that you have proper permissions for the installation directory

Getting Help​

If you continue to experience issues:

  1. Check our GitHub Issues for similar problems
  2. Join our Discord community for real-time help
  3. Create a new issue with:
    • Your operating system and version
    • Node.js and npm versions (node --version, npm --version)
    • Complete error messages
    • Steps you've already tried

Quick Diagnostic Script​

Run this script to gather system information for troubleshooting:

echo "=== System Information ==="
echo "OS: $(uname -a)"
echo "Node.js: $(node --version)"
echo "npm: $(npm --version)"
echo "npm prefix: $(npm config get prefix)"
echo "PATH: $PATH"
echo ""
echo "=== npm Configuration ==="
npm config list
echo ""
echo "=== Global Packages ==="
npm list -g --depth=0

Copy and paste this output when seeking help for faster diagnosis.


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