Web3.js: cannot install web3

Created on 24 Jul 2017 · 14Comments · Source: ChainSafe/web3.js

I am trying to install web3 globally and locally
npm install -g web3
npm install --save web3

both of them are giving me errors. I have previously successfully installed web3 both globally and in local project

@Lenovo-ideapad-700-15ISK:~$ sudo npm install -g web3
    [sudo] password for : 

    > [email protected] postinstall /usr/lib/node_modules/web3
    > lerna bootstrap

    lerna info version 2.0.0
    lerna info Bootstrapping 19 packages
    lerna info lifecycle preinstall
    lerna info Installing external dependencies
    lerna ERR! execute Error: Command failed: npm install
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! node v6.11.0
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! npm  v3.10.10
    lerna ERR! execute 
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! No name provided in package.json
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! 
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
    lerna ERR! execute 
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi/npm-debug.log
    lerna ERR! execute 
    lerna ERR! execute     at Promise.all.then.arr (/usr/lib/node_modules/web3/node_modules/execa/index.js:210:11)
    lerna ERR! execute     at process._tickCallback (internal/process/next_tick.js:109:7)
    lerna ERR! execute  callback with error
    lerna ERR! execute  { Error: Command failed: npm install
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! node v6.11.0
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! npm  v3.10.10
    lerna ERR! execute 
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! No name provided in package.json
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! 
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
    lerna ERR! execute 
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
    lerna ERR! execute npm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi/npm-debug.log
    lerna ERR! execute 
    lerna ERR! execute     at Promise.all.then.arr (/usr/lib/node_modules/web3/node_modules/execa/index.js:210:11)
    lerna ERR! execute     at process._tickCallback (internal/process/next_tick.js:109:7)
    lerna ERR! execute   stack: 'Error: Command failed: npm install\nnpm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi\nnpm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic\nnpm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"\nnpm ERR! node v6.11.0\nnpm ERR! npm  v3.10.10\n\nnpm ERR! No name provided in package.json\nnpm ERR! \nnpm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:\nnpm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>\n\nnpm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:\nnpm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi/npm-debug.log\n\n    at Promise.all.then.arr (/usr/lib/node_modules/web3/node_modules/execa/index.js:210:11)\n    at process._tickCallback (internal/process/next_tick.js:109:7)',
    lerna ERR! execute   code: 1,
    lerna ERR! execute   killed: false,
    lerna ERR! execute   stdout: '',
    lerna ERR! execute   stderr: 'npm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi\nnpm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic\nnpm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"\nnpm ERR! node v6.11.0\nnpm ERR! npm  v3.10.10\n\nnpm ERR! No name provided in package.json\nnpm ERR! \nnpm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:\nnpm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>\n\nnpm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:\nnpm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi/npm-debug.log\n',
    lerna ERR! execute   failed: true,
    lerna ERR! execute   signal: null,
    lerna ERR! execute   cmd: 'npm install',
    lerna ERR! execute   timedOut: false }
    lerna WARN complete Waiting for 3 child processes to exit. CTRL-C to exit immediately.
    (node:6065) UnhandledPromiseRejectionWarning: Unhandled promise rejection (rejection id: 3): Error: Command failed: npm install
    npm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi
    npm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic
    npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"
    npm ERR! node v6.11.0
    npm ERR! npm  v3.10.10

    npm ERR! No name provided in package.json
    npm ERR! 
    npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
    npm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>

    npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
    npm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-abi/npm-debug.log

    (node:6065) UnhandledPromiseRejectionWarning: Unhandled promise rejection (rejection id: 6): Error: Command failed: npm install
    npm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-utils
    npm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic
    npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"
    npm ERR! node v6.11.0
    npm ERR! npm  v3.10.10

    npm ERR! No name provided in package.json
    npm ERR! 
    npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
    npm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>

    npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
    npm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-utils/npm-debug.log

    (node:6065) UnhandledPromiseRejectionWarning: Unhandled promise rejection (rejection id: 9): Error: Command failed: npm install
    npm ERR! addLocal Could not install /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-iban
    npm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic
    npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install"
    npm ERR! node v6.11.0
    npm ERR! npm  v3.10.10

    npm ERR! No name provided in package.json
    npm ERR! 
    npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
    npm ERR!     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>

    npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
    npm ERR!     /usr/lib/node_modules/web3/packages/web3-eth-iban/npm-debug.log

    npm ERR! Linux 4.8.0-58-generic
    npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "install" "-g" "web3"
    npm ERR! node v6.11.0
    npm ERR! npm  v3.10.10
    npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE

    npm ERR! [email protected] postinstall: `lerna bootstrap`
    npm ERR! Exit status 1
    npm ERR! 
    npm ERR! Failed at the [email protected] postinstall script 'lerna bootstrap'.
    npm ERR! Make sure you have the latest version of node.js and npm installed.
    npm ERR! If you do, this is most likely a problem with the web3 package,
    npm ERR! not with npm itself.
    npm ERR! Tell the author that this fails on your system:
    npm ERR!     lerna bootstrap
    npm ERR! You can get information on how to open an issue for this project with:
    npm ERR!     npm bugs web3
    npm ERR! Or if that isn't available, you can get their info via:
    npm ERR!     npm owner ls web3
    npm ERR! There is likely additional logging output above.

    npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:

more information needed

Source

aas312

Most helpful comment

If you are on Windows try this code first and try to install:
npm install --global --production windows-build-tools (Administrator privilege)

Or you can try this code:
npm install -g ethereum/web3.js

Please let know if any method works.

071bctajay on 18 Feb 2018

👍3

All 14 comments

Same problem
I think postinstall.js tries to look for node.exe inside the web3 folder

A part of my log:
8411 info lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: [email protected] 8412 verbose lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: unsafe-perm in lifecycle true 8413 verbose lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: PATH: F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 8.1.2\node-v8.1.2-win-x64\node_modules\npm\bin\node-gyp-bin;F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 8.1.2\node-v8.1.2-win-x64\node_modules\web3\node_modules\.bin;F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 8.1.2\node-v8.1.2-win-x64\node_modules\.bin;C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;F:\01 SOFTWARES\Git\Git\cmd;F:\01 SOFTWARES\Anaconda;F:\01 SOFTWARES\Anaconda\Scripts;F:\01 SOFTWARES\Anaconda\Library\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\PharosSystems\Core;C:\Program Files (x86)\GtkSharp\2.12\bin;F:\01 SOFTWARES\3DS Max 2009\Backburner\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\;F:\01 SOFTWARES\Ethereum\Geth;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Windows Performance Toolkit\;C:\Users\Amit\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;C:\Users\Amit\AppData\Local\atom\bin;C:\Users\Amit\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps 8414 verbose lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: CWD: F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 8.1.2\node-v8.1.2-win-x64\node_modules\web3 8415 silly lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: Args: [ '/d /s /c', 'lerna bootstrap' ] 8416 silly lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: Returned: code: 1 signal: null 8417 info lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: Failed to exec postinstall script 8418 verbose unlock done using C:\Users\Amit\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\_locks\staging-d767f7daaa27bf88.lock for F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 8.1.2\node-v8.1.2-win-x64\node_modules\.staging 8419 verbose stack Error: [email protected] postinstall:lerna bootstrap8419 verbose stack Exit status 1 8419 verbose stack at EventEmitter.<anonymous> (F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 8.1.2\node-v8.1.2-win-x64\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\lifecycle.js:283:16) 8419 verbose stack at emitTwo (events.js:125:13) 8419 verbose stack at EventEmitter.emit (events.js:213:7)

Also I already have lerna and bootstrap installed...maybe check for them before installing?
Running Windows10 64

amitlzkpa on 25 Jul 2017

Does it help if you clear the npm cache, and remove the node_modules folder and re run npm install?

frozeman on 25 Jul 2017

Do you mean the npm folder in my node installation or the one in APPDATA?

I have tried running it on node 8.1.2 and node 6.2.
Node 6.2 gave the following error log. The one in earlier post was 8.1.2.

21520 info lifecycle [email protected]~postinstall: Failed to exec postinstall script 21521 verbose unlock done using C:\Users\Amit\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\_locks\staging-d5dd9d1d8a8a3d21.lock for F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 6.2.0\node_modules\.staging 21522 silly rollbackFailedOptional Starting 21523 silly rollbackFailedOptional Finishing 21524 silly runTopLevelLifecycles Starting 21525 silly runTopLevelLifecycles Finishing 21526 silly install printInstalled 21527 warn optional Skipping failed optional dependency /chokidar/fsevents: 21528 warn notsup Not compatible with your operating system or architecture: [email protected] 21529 warn enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 6.2.0\package.json' 21530 warn NodeJS 6.2.0 No description 21531 warn NodeJS 6.2.0 No repository field. 21532 warn NodeJS 6.2.0 No README data 21533 warn NodeJS 6.2.0 No license field. 21534 verbose stack Error: [email protected] postinstall:lerna bootstrap21534 verbose stack Exit status 1 21534 verbose stack at EventEmitter.<anonymous> (F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 6.2.0\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\lifecycle.js:245:16) 21534 verbose stack at emitTwo (events.js:106:13) 21534 verbose stack at EventEmitter.emit (events.js:191:7) 21534 verbose stack at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 6.2.0\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\spawn.js:24:14) 21534 verbose stack at emitTwo (events.js:106:13) 21534 verbose stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:191:7) 21534 verbose stack at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:850:16) 21534 verbose stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:215:5) 21535 verbose pkgid [email protected] 21536 verbose cwd F:\01 SOFTWARES\NodeJS 6.2.0 21537 error Windows_NT 10.0.15063 21538 error argv "F:\\01 SOFTWARES\\NodeJS 6.2.0\\node.exe" "F:\\01 SOFTWARES\\NodeJS 6.2.0\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "install" "web3" 21539 error node v6.2.0 21540 error npm v3.8.9 21541 error code ELIFECYCLE 21542 error [email protected] postinstall:lerna bootstrap21542 error Exit status 1 21543 error Failed at the [email protected] postinstall script 'lerna bootstrap'. 21543 error Make sure you have the latest version of node.js and npm installed. 21543 error If you do, this is most likely a problem with the web3 package, 21543 error not with npm itself. 21543 error Tell the author that this fails on your system: 21543 error lerna bootstrap 21543 error You can get information on how to open an issue for this project with: 21543 error npm bugs web3 21543 error Or if that isn't available, you can get their info via: 21543 error npm owner ls web3 21543 error There is likely additional logging output above. 21544 verbose exit [ 1, true ]

amitlzkpa on 25 Jul 2017

i uninstall lerna and web3 by running npm uninstall -g lerna and pm uninstall -g web3 and i still get the same errors

aas312 on 25 Jul 2017

Try running npm cache verify if you are using npm v5+ or npm cache clean for older versions.

orif on 25 Jul 2017

I have the same problem when I tried to install web3 beta12 globally.
Tried "npm cache verify" without success.
I'm using Using node 8.2.1 and npm 5.3.0 on OSX.

But ...

I'm able to install it locally !

eloudsa on 26 Jul 2017

Closing in favour of #950

frozeman on 27 Jul 2017

👍1

If you are on Windows try this code first and try to install:
npm install --global --production windows-build-tools (Administrator privilege)

Or you can try this code:
npm install -g ethereum/web3.js

Please let know if any method works.

071bctajay on 18 Feb 2018

👍3

@071bctajay Is there a reason why you're installing globally?

indreklasn on 3 Apr 2018

Mac OS
commend: npm install web3
problem:
1 warning and 1 error generated.
make: * [Release/obj.target/scrypt_wrapper/src/scryptwrapper/keyderivation.o] Error 1
gyp ERR! build error
gyp ERR! stack Error: make failed with exit code: 2
gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.onExit (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/build.js:258:23)
gyp ERR! stack at emitTwo (events.js:126:13)
gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:214:7)
gyp ERR! stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:198:12)
gyp ERR! System Darwin 17.7.0
gyp ERR! command "/usr/local/bin/node" "/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "rebuild"
gyp ERR! cwd /Users/tianlele/Documents/vevid_sc/VEVID01/node_modules/scrypt
gyp ERR! node -v v8.11.3
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v3.6.2
gyp ERR! not ok
npm WARN [email protected] No repository field.

npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! [email protected] install: node-gyp rebuild
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the [email protected] install script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:

txsdev on 12 Jul 2018

@gitHub-Tienlele I had the same issue till yesterday,
please refer to this link
https://github.com/Microsoft/nodejs-guidelines/blob/master/windows-environment.md#compiling-native-addon-modules
I followed instructions to manually setup the environment.
install vs 2017 community version with "c++ for desktop development" workload as mentioned and do the next steps. this much should be enough to get you running.
Thanks, good luck 👍

indrajitbnikam on 17 Jul 2018

Anyone having this problem just "Run as admin in your Powershell or Node.js CMD

1) npm install --global --production windows-build-tools

after the installation is complete

2) npm install [email protected] (or any beta version you like up to 36 if i'm not mistaken)

Jason-Soo on 23 Sep 2018

I had "MSB4019 error " issue , I found many ways but no work!
Finally I found solution at https://github.com/Microsoft/nodejs-guidelines/blob/master/windows-environment.md#compiling-native-addon-modules

Thanks @indrajitbnikam I found my result in that link.

Add or modify the environment variable VCTargetsPath top point at the C++ build tools path. This should be something like C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\v140\ (where 140 corresponds to Visual Studio 2015)

Attention: the lastest character '\' of VCTargetsPath is important for visual studio 2015, if '\' is missing will cause visual studio 2015 cannot create c++ project!!! becareful!!

====================================
我今天安装Web3折腾了半天, 我系统上已经有vs2015, 但是用npm安装web3时总是报 "MSB4019 error", 最终找到了解决方法:

添加一个系统环境变量 VCTargetsPath, 路径设为 C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\v140\ (前提是你安装了vs, 如果vs版本不同, 请自行调整), 然后将在系统path中添加这个变量 , %VCTargetsPath%. 重新打开cmd, 使用npm install web3 -g 安装web3即可.

注意: VCTargetsPath 最后一个 '\'不能少, 否则会导致vs2015不能新建C++工程!!! 这是我遇到坑!! 2018-12-23留

youngqqcn on 18 Dec 2018

I can't also install [email protected], and try to solve the problem by the following method

[root@nodes deploy]# npm install -g node-gyp
[root@nodes deploy]# npm init -y
[root@nodes deploy]# npm install --save [email protected]
> [email protected] preinstall /root/backup/issue_token/ausd/node_modules/scrypt
> node node-scrypt-preinstall.js

Error: Error: Command failed: ./configure
./configure: line 1904: config.log: Permission denied
./configure: line 1914: config.log: Permission denied


> [email protected] install /root/backup/issue_token/ausd/node_modules/scrypt
> node-gyp rebuild

gyp WARN EACCES user "root" does not have permission to access the dev dir "/root/.node-gyp/10.15.1"
gyp WARN EACCES attempting to reinstall using temporary dev dir "/root/backup/issue_token/ausd/node_modules/scrypt/.node-gyp"
gyp WARN install got an error, rolling back install
gyp WARN install got an error, rolling back install
gyp ERR! configure error
gyp ERR! stack Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/root/backup/issue_token/ausd/node_modules/scrypt/.node-gyp'
gyp ERR! System Linux 3.10.0-862.el7.x86_64
gyp ERR! command "/usr/local/node/bin/node" "/usr/local/node/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "rebuild"
gyp ERR! cwd /root/backup/issue_token/ausd/node_modules/scrypt
gyp ERR! node -v v10.15.1
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v3.8.0
gyp ERR! not ok
npm WARN [email protected] No description
npm WARN [email protected] No repository field.

npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! [email protected] install: `node-gyp rebuild`
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the [email protected] install script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR!     /root/.npm/_logs/2019-02-21T04_43_47_170Z-debug.log

and after change my account from root to deploy, then it's success!