Meteor-feature-requests: Allow use of installed NPM packages within `meteor shell` even if they have not been imported in server code

[gaurav-]

Migrated from: meteor/meteor#6624

[gaurav-]

Last tested with Meteor 1.6.0.1, looks like I'm unable to import an NPM package in shell even if it's being imported in my app code.

> import moment from 'moment';
Error: Cannot find module 'moment'
    at makeMissingError (packages/modules-runtime.js:231:12)
    at require (packages/modules-runtime.js:241:19)
    at repl:2:14
    at ContextifyScript.Script.runInThisContext (vm.js:50:33)
    at defaultEval (repl.js:240:29)
    at bound (domain.js:301:14)
    at runBound (domain.js:314:12)
    at evalCommandPromise.then (packages/shell-server/shell-server.js:246:21)
    at /Users/gaurav/.meteor/packages/promise/.0.10.0.ak8m4i++os+web.browser+web.cordova/npm/node_modules/meteor-promise/fiber_pool.js:43:40

Require also fails:

> const moment = require('moment');
Error: Cannot find module 'moment'
    at makeMissingError (packages/modules-runtime.js:231:12)
    at require (packages/modules-runtime.js:241:19)
    at repl:1:-48
    at ContextifyScript.Script.runInThisContext (vm.js:50:33)
    at defaultEval (repl.js:240:29)
    at bound (domain.js:301:14)
    at runBound (domain.js:314:12)
    at evalCommandPromise.then (packages/shell-server/shell-server.js:246:21)
    at /Users/gaurav/.meteor/packages/promise/.0.10.0.ak8m4i++os+web.browser+web.cordova/npm/node_modules/meteor-promise/fiber_pool.js:43:40

_Note: Changed the original issue title to reflect that no NPM package installed in app can be used in meteor shell._

[hwillson]

Can you provide a small runnable reproduction that shows this happening? This should be working by default. I've put together a small reproduction that shows this working here: https://github.com/hwillson/fr-282

If this isn't working for you, then something else is interfering (and a reproduction from your side would help track down the issue). Thanks!

[KoenLav]

@hwillson should we close this issue?

[gaurav-]

Just tried with latest meteor version (1.8.1) and the issue is still there with a slightly different stacktrace

Steps to reproduce:

meteor create --minimal import-npm-package-in-meteor-shell
cd import-npm-package-in-meteor-shell
meteor npm i
meteor npm i moment --save
meteor run

In meteor shell:

> import moment from 'moment';
Error: Cannot find module 'moment'
    at evalCommandPromise.then (packages/shell-server/shell-server.js:249:21)
    at runBound (domain.js:314:12)
    at bound (domain.js:301:14)
    at defaultEval (repl.js:240:29)
    at ContextifyScript.Script.runInThisContext (vm.js:50:33)
    at repl:2:8
    at Module.moduleLink [as link] (/Users/gaurav/.meteor/packages/modules/.0.13.0.10p0eew++os+web.browser+web.browser.legacy+web.cordova/npm/node_modules/reify/lib/runtime/index.js:38:38)
    at Module.require (packages/modules-runtime.js:241:17)
    at makeMissingError (packages/modules-runtime.js:222:12)

> const moment = require('moment');
Error: Cannot find module 'moment'
    at evalCommandPromise.then (packages/shell-server/shell-server.js:249:21)
    at runBound (domain.js:314:12)
    at bound (domain.js:301:14)
    at defaultEval (repl.js:240:29)
    at ContextifyScript.Script.runInThisContext (vm.js:50:33)
    at repl:1:-46
    at require (packages/modules-runtime.js:258:21)
    at Module.require (packages/modules-runtime.js:241:17)
    at makeMissingError (packages/modules-runtime.js:222:12)

[klaussner]

@gaurav- You need to import the module somewhere in your server code to be able to import it in the server shell. For example, add import "moment"; to server/main.js in your reproduction.

[KoenLav]

@klaussner so this is working as intended?

If nothing is going to change with regards to this then I think it's better to close this (and possibly add something to the docs).

[klaussner]

It's working as intended but I think this a reasonable feature request and should remain open. (I ran into this problem a few times myself. 😄) I agree that we should add a note about the current behavior to the docs (here).