npm init ERR Cannot call method 'join' of undefined (init-package-json/default-input.js:51:45)

[shawninder]

It's the first time I ever see npm init fail. I must say I'm really surprised as I didn't update npm or anything either.

Also, it only fails in one directory. If I go to a different directory and do the same thing, it works just fine. The directory in which it doesn't work doesn't have anything special in it either, just a few files, a few directories, and .git directory.

Basically, I just ran npm init, pressed enter to keep the default package name, and it failed. I then cat npm-debug.log. The full output is below.

$ npm init
This utility will walk you through creating a package.json file.
It only covers the most common items, and tries to guess sane defaults.

See `npm help json` for definitive documentation on these fields
and exactly what they do.

Use `npm install <pkg> --save` afterwards to install a package and
save it as a dependency in the package.json file.

Press ^C at any time to quit.
name: (gitAsBackend)
npm ERR! Darwin 14.0.0
npm ERR! argv "node" "/Users/shawn/npm/bin/npm" "init"
npm ERR! node v0.10.31
npm ERR! npm  v2.7.6

npm ERR! Cannot call method 'join' of undefined
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!     /Users/shawn/Work/gitAsBackend/npm-debug.log
$ cat npm-debug.log
0 info it worked if it ends with ok
1 verbose cli [ 'node', '/Users/shawn/npm/bin/npm', 'init' ]
2 info using npm@2.7.6
3 info using node@v0.10.31
4 silly package data undefined
5 info init written successfully
6 verbose type non_object_property_call
7 verbose stack TypeError: Cannot call method 'join' of undefined
7 verbose stack     at exports.name (/Users/shawn/npm/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/init-package-json/default-input.js:51:45)
7 verbose stack     at PromZard.<anonymous> (/Users/shawn/npm/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/init-package-json/node_modules/promzard/promzard.js:226:19)
7 verbose stack     at Interface.onLine (/Users/shawn/npm/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/read/lib/read.js:111:5)
7 verbose stack     at Interface.emit (events.js:95:17)
7 verbose stack     at Interface._onLine (readline.js:202:10)
7 verbose stack     at Interface._line (readline.js:531:8)
7 verbose stack     at Interface._ttyWrite (readline.js:760:14)
7 verbose stack     at ReadStream.onkeypress (readline.js:99:10)
7 verbose stack     at ReadStream.emit (events.js:98:17)
7 verbose stack     at emitKey (readline.js:1095:12)
8 verbose cwd /Users/shawn/Work/gitAsBackend
9 error Darwin 14.0.0
10 error argv "node" "/Users/shawn/npm/bin/npm" "init"
11 error node v0.10.31
12 error npm  v2.7.6
13 error Cannot call method 'join' of undefined
14 error If you need help, you may report this error at:
14 error     <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
15 verbose exit [ 1, true ]

[iarna]

You've stepped into a bug in the error reporting in in init-package-json.

The error that it's failing to report is that we don't allow capital letters in package names. Node modules typically use kebob case, so a more idiomatic package name would be git-as-backend.

Meanwhile, I've created a bug report over at npm/init-package-json#37

When it's fixed it'll find its way back into npm soon after.

I'm going to close this ticket in favor of the one over at init-package-json. Thanks for reporting this!

[chetandhembre]

Thanks for answer..but It would be nice if "package name should be capital" be message in error .. I just spent 15 minutes in uninstalling / reinstalling npm . Finally bump onto this issue.
Can you please fix it ?

[shawninder]

The way I see it, it will be fixed via iarna's bug report. Thanks iarna

[Maik-Verge]

Thanks Shawn and Iarna, just ran into this myself, I thought I was going crazy for a minute.

[michaelmcmillan]

Yep, here as well. Please make this into an error message.

[Fishrock123]

Looks like this was fixed in npm/init-package-json#40 / 98ad98c / 2.10.0

[glzcc]

I don't know!

[glzcc]

The version is too low