Web3.js: npm install error - installing web3 in macOS Mojave

[chuanqin3]

Hi, I always run to the error when tried npm install web3:

> [email protected] preinstall /Users/chuanqin/Documents/Github/web3js-test/node_modules/scrypt
> node node-scrypt-preinstall.js

Error: Error: Command failed: ./configure
configure: error: in `/Users/chuanqin/Documents/Github/web3js-test/node_modules/scrypt/scrypt/scrypt-1.2.0':
configure: error: C compiler cannot create executables
See `config.log' for more details


> [email protected] install /Users/chuanqin/Documents/Github/web3js-test/node_modules/scrypt
> node-gyp rebuild

gyp ERR! configure error 
gyp ERR! stack Error: Command failed: /usr/local/bin/python -c import sys; print "%s.%s.%s" % sys.version_info[:3];
gyp ERR! stack   File "<string>", line 1
gyp ERR! stack     import sys; print "%s.%s.%s" % sys.version_info[:3];
gyp ERR! stack                                ^
gyp ERR! stack SyntaxError: invalid syntax
gyp ERR! stack 
gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.exithandler (child_process.js:289:12)
gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:182:13)
gyp ERR! stack     at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:962:16)
gyp ERR! stack     at Socket.stream.socket.on (internal/child_process.js:381:11)
gyp ERR! stack     at Socket.emit (events.js:182:13)
gyp ERR! stack     at Pipe._handle.close (net.js:606:12)
gyp ERR! System Darwin 18.2.0
gyp ERR! command "/usr/local/bin/node" "/Users/chuanqin/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "rebuild"
gyp ERR! cwd /Users/chuanqin/Documents/Github/web3js-test/node_modules/scrypt
gyp ERR! node -v v10.13.0
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:

However, the weird thing is, if I tried to use sudo npm install web3, this problem will be gone, even this error message does not mention a thing about access...

I searched and it still does not look like an access problem. I have no problem with installing many other packages without using sudo (which I try to avoid per many experts' suggestion). Maybe I am missing something here? Any input is appreciated.

MacOS version: 10.14.1

[chuanqin3]

Today I took 2 hours to do a fresh reinstall of my macOS and it solved my problem. I hope my solution helps other people.

[freemanzMrojo]

Just installing Xcode worked as well

[chuanqin3]

Just installing Xcode worked as well

Good point. People who run to my problem can try this first. Unfortunately, it does not work on my side. I believe something is messed up with my sudo and configuration.. so a fresh reinstall is the last resort. :/

[dragupta]

@chuanqin3 - so you reinstalled the entire OS and apps before you got this to work? Are there no better ways to uninstall and reinstall these - npm, node, python 2, python3, etc?

Arun

[chuanqin3]

@dragupta No I don't. I believe something deep in my system is broken. Abusive usage of sudo can deteriorate your system quickly.