Python path issue in most recent node:alpine?

[jlafortune]

Trying to compile a dependency that requires Python with node:alpine. Receiving a message that Python isn't on the path. The Docker build works correctly if I change to node:9-alpine. So I believe something changed with respect to Python between these two releases. Any thoughts? The full error and how to reproduce is below. Thanks!

package.json

  "name": "python_err",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "Demo the Python issue",
  "main": "index.js",
  "scripts": {
    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
  },
  "author": "",
  "license": "ISC",
  "dependencies": {
    "@google-cloud/pubsub": "^0.18.0"
  }
}

Dockerfile

FROM node:alpine
COPY package.json .
RUN npm install
COPY index.js .
CMD ['node', 'index.js']

index.js

console.log('hello');

Error

Sending build context to Docker daemon  79.47MB
Step 1/5 : FROM node:alpine
 ---> 3036d4c4fcea
Step 2/5 : COPY package.json .
 ---> bec930afabf8
Step 3/5 : RUN npm install
 ---> Running in bc51bb7f118d

> grpc@1.11.0 install /node_modules/grpc
> node-pre-gyp install --fallback-to-build --library=static_library

node-pre-gyp ERR! Tried to download(403): https://storage.googleapis.com/grpc-precompiled-binaries/node/grpc/v1.11.0/node-v64-linux-x64-musl.tar.gz
node-pre-gyp ERR! Pre-built binaries not found for grpc@1.11.0 and node@10.0.0 (node-v64 ABI, musl) (falling back to source compile with node-gyp)
gyp ERR! configure error
gyp ERR! stack Error: Can't find Python executable "python", you can set the PYTHON env variable.
gyp ERR! stack     at PythonFinder.failNoPython (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/configure.js:483:19)
gyp ERR! stack     at PythonFinder.<anonymous> (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/configure.js:397:16)
gyp ERR! stack     at F (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/which/which.js:68:16)
gyp ERR! stack     at E (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/which/which.js:80:29)
gyp ERR! stack     at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/which/which.js:89:16
gyp ERR! stack     at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/which/node_modules/isexe/index.js:42:5
gyp ERR! stack     at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/which/node_modules/isexe/mode.js:8:5
gyp ERR! stack     at FSReqWrap.oncomplete (fs.js:149:21)
gyp ERR! System Linux 4.9.60-linuxkit-aufs
gyp ERR! command "/usr/local/bin/node" "/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "configure" "--fallback-to-build" "--library=static_library" "--module=/node_modules/grpc/src/node/extension_binary/node-v64-linux-x64-musl/grpc_node.node" "--module_name=grpc_node" "--module_path=/node_modules/grpc/src/node/extension_binary/node-v64-linux-x64-musl"
gyp ERR! cwd /node_modules/grpc
gyp ERR! node -v v10.0.0
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v3.6.2
gyp ERR! not ok
node-pre-gyp ERR! build error
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack Error: Failed to execute '/usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js configure --fallback-to-build --library=static_library --module=/node_modules/grpc/src/node/extension_binary/node-v64-linux-x64-musl/grpc_node.node --module_name=grpc_node --module_path=/node_modules/grpc/src/node/extension_binary/node-v64-linux-x64-musl' (1)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (/node_modules/grpc/node_modules/node-pre-gyp/lib/util/compile.js:83:29)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:182:13)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:947:16)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack     at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:236:5)
node-pre-gyp ERR! System Linux 4.9.60-linuxkit-aufs
node-pre-gyp ERR! command "/usr/local/bin/node" "/node_modules/grpc/node_modules/.bin/node-pre-gyp" "install" "--fallback-to-build" "--library=static_library"
node-pre-gyp ERR! cwd /node_modules/grpc
node-pre-gyp ERR! node -v v10.0.0
node-pre-gyp ERR! node-pre-gyp -v v0.7.0
node-pre-gyp ERR! not ok
Failed to execute '/usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js configure --fallback-to-build --library=static_library --module=/node_modules/grpc/src/node/extension_binary/node-v64-linux-x64-musl/grpc_node.node --module_name=grpc_node --module_path=/node_modules/grpc/src/node/extension_binary/node-v64-linux-x64-musl' (1)
npm WARN python_err@1.0.0 No repository field.

npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! grpc@1.11.0 install: `node-pre-gyp install --fallback-to-build --library=static_library`
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the grpc@1.11.0 install script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.

[LaurentGoderre]

9 Alpine definitely should not have Python installed. See #282 on how to fix this.

[jlafortune]

Ah okay, I now see that the Alpine Dockerfile only temporarily installs Python with the --virtual flag. I should be able to fix with #282. Thanks!