module.js:338 throw err in node.js

Question

I'm using ubuntu and I'm trying to run a script using nodejs and i'm getting this error.

/home/bebz/Documents/test# node server.js
module.js:338
throw err;
      ^
Error: Cannot find module 'merge-descriptors'
    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:336:15)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:278:25)
    at Module.require (module.js:365:17)
    at require (module.js:384:17)
    at Object.<anonymous> (/home/bebz/node_modules/express/lib/express.js:6:13)
    at Module._compile (module.js:460:26)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:478:10)
    at Module.load (module.js:355:32)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:310:12)
    at Module.require (module.js:365:17)

What is the problem? I'm in the right directory and also i tried to run it using root but nothing happens.

Inside server.js is

// get dependencies
var app = require("express")();

// handle request and response
app.get("/", function(req, res) {
    res.send({name:"Hello Wolrd"});
});

// initializing a port
app.listen( 5000);

A simple example just to show that node.js is working.

score 28 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:24

28

It seems like the script has an unmet dependency - meaning you have to install the module "merge-descriptors" first.

It also seems like the script is using "express" (and "merge-descriptors" actually looks like a dependency of "express") - because this didn't throw an error some dependencies seem to be installed already.

So you could try to install the missing ones via npm install or npm update.

Update: According to npmjs.org "merge-descriptors" is an dependency of "express". Looking at your stacktrace shows that you have "express" installed globally - so you should try npm update -g

If that doesn't solve your problem you should have a look at this question.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:24

Community

1
1

answered Feb 07 '15 at 01:43

Florian Loch

809
7
12

2

I used `npm update` and it is working now. Thank you so much! – Abdullah Feb 07 '15 at 02:00
Node will also throw 338's when the target script doesn't exist. Basically a file not found notice. – EvilKittenLord Mar 04 '15 at 14:49
@UberDoyle: Actually an unmet dependency is, from a technical point of view, a simple "target script doesn't exist" – Florian Loch Mar 05 '15 at 17:10
@FlorianLoch I have the same issue, I tried npm update, but it is not working. – Vishnu Sureshkumar Jun 09 '15 at 15:01
@FlorianLoch - There is no npm_modules folder on installed express. – Vishnu Sureshkumar Jun 09 '15 at 15:04

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 05 '15 at 10:48

2

npm update

I see this when the module install order is not perfect, or multiple modules exist.

npm update sorts this out deprecating the incorrect versions.

answered Nov 05 '15 at 10:48

Andy Carr

21
2

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 07 '18 at 10:24

Whenever you get module.js:338 throw err; try to check whether npm is installed in your machine or not.

UserName$ npm -v

If you get the version name, then it's clear that npm is installed.

If you don't get the version name, there is some problem with your installation or it is not installed.

To install npm, type this command in your Terminal:

UserName$ curl -0 -L http://npmjs.org/install.sh | sudo sh

Also notice I added sudo before the sudo sh command depending on your users permissions.

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 06 '15 at 15:56

0

This error occurs when module name and file name does not match. It's resolved after using the same name for module and file name. e.g.

module - Hello,
File name - Hello.js

edited Jun 06 '15 at 15:56

TheCodingFrog

3,406
3
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27

answered Jun 06 '15 at 15:02

Karthik Dheeraj

11
2

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Aug 02 '17 at 07:20

0

you should install merge-descriptors module. Open your terminal or command prompt and run this command:

npm install --save merge-descriptors

edited Aug 02 '17 at 07:20

Dmitriy

5,525
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answered Aug 02 '17 at 06:55

Vijay Chauhan

1,282
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18

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 09 '19 at 06:31

I also got the same issue , u should try npm install , npm update is also an option but with npm update latest npm version will be installed in your local environement . This is not desirable for global project as u may find unmet dependencies issue at global environment then.

I would suggest use npm install

module.js:338 throw err in node.js

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