cannot find module socket.io

Question

I'm pretty new to nodejs and socket.io. At the time I don't know anything about nodejs. I met a horrible error.

My whole steps to install nodejs (on Windows 7):

- Access nodejs.org and click to their green download button.
- Install nodejs in F:/nodejs
- Install socket.io with command npm install socket.io
- Install node supervisor with command npm install supervisor -g

That's all. Then I try to use socket.io with this line:

var io = require('socket.io').listen(app);

And it output an error:

Error: Cannot find module 'socket.io'
    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:338:15)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:280:25)
    at Module.require (module.js:364:17)
    at require (module.js:380:17)
    at Object.<anonymous> (F:\nodejs\chat.js:8:10)
    at Module._compile (module.js:456:26)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:474:10)
    at Module.load (module.js:356:32)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:312:12)
    at Function.Module.runMain (module.js:497:10)

I've tried all suggested method like cleaning cache, reinstalling nodejs or changing socket.io module path. Unfortunately, all of those solutions didn't solve this problem.

This terrible error killed my whole day. I greatly appreciate any help.

possible duplicate of [NodeJS - How to resolve "Cannot find module" error](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9023672/nodejs-how-to-resolve-cannot-find-module-error) — pennstatephil, May 14 '14 at 15:18
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17058298/error-cannot-find-module-socket-io — isomorphismes, Oct 26 '17 at 19:01

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered May 14 '14 at 15:16

11

Try to execute npm install socket.io in the folder where your node.js file is (where you require the module). npm creates a folder node_modules wherever you execute npm install socket.io and you probably didn't do this in the correct folder.

npm install supervisor -g did work because -g is the global flag and you can basically do that anywhere.

answered May 14 '14 at 15:16

GiveMeAllYourCats

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@pennstatephil yes for supervisor not socket.io though – GiveMeAllYourCats May 14 '14 at 15:17
I did your suggestion. And nothing change. – Lewis May 14 '14 at 15:19
@user3247703 can you confirm you see node_modules folder in the root folder of your project with socket.io folder init? – GiveMeAllYourCats May 14 '14 at 15:22
I've checked module path with this code `console.log(module.paths)`. And this is the result `F:\\nodejs\\node_modules, F:\\node_modules` – Lewis May 14 '14 at 15:27
My socket.io folder was placed in `npm app`, in windows appData folder – Lewis May 14 '14 at 15:28
I forgot your first suggestion. It worked. Very very big thanks for this. – Lewis May 14 '14 at 15:57
Oh, I was away for a bit to get lunch. Glad it worked out for you! – GiveMeAllYourCats May 14 '14 at 15:59
"Try to execute npm install socket.io in the folder where your node.js file is." This worked for me. I wonder why my global command didnt work? – Nevin Madhukar K Oct 01 '15 at 09:26
@NevinMadhukarK the global flag is used mostly for CLI modules like grunt for example. You would normally install your project dependencies via `npm install` so your package.json gets updated for version control :) – GiveMeAllYourCats Feb 15 '17 at 14:38

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 07 '16 at 00:22

The problem is that the package installed by npm install socket.io is not only the module itself, but also brings a sample and more stuff.

When you install, npm creates a node_modules folder. Inside that folder, there is a folder named socketio . Inside that one, there is another folder named node_modules . Inside this one, there is a folder named socket.io . Move or copy this one folder (socket.io) to inside the first node_modules folder right where your script is. Et voilla, it works!

cannot find module socket.io

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