Electron-builder: Exec command not found

[yopbeast]

• Version: 17.21.0

• Target: dmg

I have some exec() command in my app for example:

exec('npm -v', (err, stdout, stderr) => {

      $log.info(stdout, stderr, err);
    });

It works if i start the app from the shell but it won't if i build the dmg and install the app.

I get error in console: npm command not found

So i tried this:

require('child_process').execSync('which npm').toString();

And i get this error:

child_process.js:538 Uncaught Error: Command failed: which npm


    at checkExecSyncError (child_process.js:495:13)
    at Object.execSync (child_process.js:535:13)
    at Object.childProcess.(anonymous function) [as execSync] (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:690:22)
    at <anonymous>:1:26

Any advice?

Thank you

[develar]

An app launched by a GUI launcher (Finder, Dock, Spotlight etc.) receives a pretty empty and useless environment, since standard Unix ways of setting variables via e.g. ~/.profile do not work.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/135688/setting-environment-variables-in-os-x

In any case you cannot assume that npm will be installed on user machine.

[develar]

e.g. https://github.com/nodejs/installer/issues/18

[yopbeast]

@develar Hi, sorry i do not assume that it is installed because it's required that node is already installed on the OS to use the app.

The problem is that I did not understand whether it is possible or not execute this command because the response to the issue that you linked does not provide anything from what I read, am i mistaking?

Also I do not understand what is written on StackOverflow, they are talking about to edit a conf file on the OS, i can't ask final app user to edit the file...

What you suggest sorry?

[develar]

What you suggest sorry?

"reconstructing the entire shell environment" https://github.com/nodejs/installer/issues/18#issuecomment-230272846

[yopbeast]

it's not possible due to node installer?

[yopbeast]

Actually i found that using this:

process.env.PATH = process.env.PATH + ':/usr/local/bin';

exec works, could be a fix or it's going to take me to the hell too? 🗡

[develar]

could be a fix

Yes. But please note — custom user env will be still not supported. So, "reconstructing the entire shell environment" is the only real complete solution.

[yopbeast]

@develar sorry not supported where? on electron?

[develar]

Not supported by your app. For example, if on my machine npm will be installed to another dir. And dir will be specified in the shell PATH.

[yopbeast]

@develar got it thanks :) do you think it's better to always ask which node or which npm and use the path to the executable anyway to have larger support?

[develar]

No, I suggest https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/issues/880#issuecomment-258601786