Problem with NPM and graceful-fs

[beke64]

Hi all,
after installing Node.js v12.16.2 on Windows 10 in order to use the Ionic framework, I get the following error checking the npm version to test the environment.

C:\Users\xxxxxx>npm -v
evalmachine.:35
} = primordials;
^

ReferenceError: primordials is not defined
at evalmachine.:35:5
at Object. (C:\Users\beke\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs\fs.js:11:1)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1156:30)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1176:10)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1000:32)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:899:14)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1042:19)
at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:77:18)
at Object. (C:\Users\beke\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs\graceful-fs.js:3:27)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1156:30)

I've established that the error I'm getting is not due to an older version of graceful-fs.

I've tried to unistall and re-install node.js 12.16.2, the last LTS version (two times, the first by msi installer downloaded from https://nodejs.org/it/download/ and the second by nvm).

Both the installation returned the same error.

I'v tried to check the effective version of graceful-fs existing on my hdd and opening the package.json file in the C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs folder I found that the version is 4.2.3.

I've also tried to install via npm the last version of node.js (13.13.0) and the result is exactly the same: Graceful-fs 4.2.3 installed and the same error.

Can anyone help me to solve this problem, please?
Any idea?
Any other community to ask these question?

[bnoordhuis]

I'm moving this to nodejs/help because it's not an issue with Node.js itself, although you're probably better off reporting it to npm.

Per my comment in nodejs/node#32799, I can tell from the error message that it's an old graceful-fs version. You can check for yourself by looking for that fs.js file - you won't find it in v4.2.3.

[beke64]

I'm moving this to nodejs/help because it's not an issue with Node.js itself, although you're probably better off reporting it to npm.

Thanks.
Wherever you think it's the best place to resolve this issue.

Per my comment in #32799, I can tell from the error message that it's an old graceful-fs version. You can check for yourself by looking for that fs.js file - you won't find it in v4.2.3.

You are right.
These are the files I can see in the folder C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs

• clone.js
• graceful-fs.js
• legacy-streams.js
• LICENSE
• package.json
• polyfills.js
• README.md

So, why when I call npm -v npm look for an old graceful-fs file that do not exist anymore?

[bnoordhuis]

That's what I mean when I said it's picking up an old version. Look at the paths you mention:

• C:\Users\beke\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs
• C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs

[beke64]

I see.
in the folder C:\Users\beke\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs there is an older version of graceful-js (3.0.6)
while in the folder C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs there is the newer right version (4.2.3)
So... what's the point?
What should I do now?

[bnoordhuis]

It's your system so it's up to you but I'd try removing the old npm install in C:\Users\beke\AppData\Roaming\npm.

[beke64]

I have uninstalled node.js.
The "C:\Program Files\nodejs\ folder" no longer exists.
But in "C:\Users\beke\AppData\Roaming" there is still an "npm" folder (and, yes, it contains the old version of graceful-fs) and also an "npm-cache" folder.
Do you think that I can safely delete these folders?

[bnoordhuis]

Probably. I don't see how it can hurt.

[beke64]

All done.
Everything works fine now.
For anyone running into this mistake:

• Uninstall node.js
• Delete C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\npm folder
• Delete C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache folder
• Reinstall node.js

[saritvakrat]

Hi,
I also get this when I try to run one of nodes internal files

ReferenceError: primordials is not defined
    at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/sarit/Documents/code/node/lib/internal/util/comparisons.js:23:5)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:959:30)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:995:10)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:815:32)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:727:14)
    at Function.Module.runMain (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1047:10)
    at internal/main/run_main_module.js:17:11

The only installation that was done was the nodejs build and gyp

[BridgeAR]

@saritvakrat internals are loaded with require('internal/path'), so in your case: require('internal/util/comparison'). However, those are not meant to be loaded in userland. They should only be used when working on Node.js itself.

I am closing this since both questions seems to be answered.

[MounicaMercy]

Hello,
I installed node version- 12.18.4 and when I'm trying to run gulp serve, this is the error im getting.
ReferenceError: primordials is not defined
at fs.js:36:5
at req_ (C:\Users\mounika.pasupunuri\hello-webpart\node_modules\natives\index.js:143:24)
at Object.req [as require] (C:\Users\mounika.pasupunuri\hello-webpart\node_modules\natives\index.js:55:10)
at Object. (C:\Users\mounika.pasupunuri\hello-webpart\node_modules\gulp\node_modules\graceful-fs\fs.js:1:37)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1137:30)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1157:10)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:985:32)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:878:14)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1025:19)
at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:72:18)
at Object. (C:\Users\mounika.pasupunuri\hello-webpart\node_modules\gulp\node_modules\graceful-fs\graceful-fs.js:3:27)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1137:30)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1157:10)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:985:32)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:878:14)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1025:19)

Thank you in advance.