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[BUG] Installing a package globally from a git repo does not make any dependencies available during prepare script #8440

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[BUG] Installing a package globally from a git repo does not make any dependencies available during prepare script#8440
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Bugthing that needs fixingPriority 2secondary priority issue

Description

@cstrahan
cstrahan
opened on Jul 17, 2025

Is there an existing issue for this?

  • I have searched the existing issues

This issue touched on multiple things, and ended up closed: #1865

But, it seems evident that this particular problem was never resolved.

This issue exists in the latest npm version

  • I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

The docs state this about the "prepare" script:

NOTE: If a package being installed through git contains a prepare script, its dependencies and devDependencies will be installed, and the prepare script will be run, before the package is packaged and installed.

This is evidently not true:

% npm install --include=dev -g "https://github.com/backtrace-labs/backtrace-morgue.git#cstrahan/test" --foreground-scripts

up to date in 232ms
npm error code 127
npm error git dep preparation failed
npm error command /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/bin/node /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/bin/npm-cli.js install --force --cache=/Users/charles.strahan/.npm --prefer-offline=false --prefer-online=false --offline=false --no-progress --no-save --no-audit --include=dev --include=peer --include=optional --no-package-lock-only --no-dry-run
npm error > backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 prepare
npm error > npm run build
npm error
npm error
npm error > backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 build
npm error > npm run clean && npm run compile
npm error
npm error
npm error > backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 clean
npm error > tsc -b --clean
npm error npm warn using --force Recommended protections disabled.
npm error npm warn using --force Recommended protections disabled.
npm error npm warn using --force Recommended protections disabled.
npm error sh: tsc: command not found
npm error npm error code 127
npm error npm error path /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clonePcQvUY
npm error npm error command failed
npm error npm error command sh -c npm run build
npm error npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T22_30_03_974Z-debug-0.log
npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T22_29_57_297Z-debug-0.log

Note the sh: tsc: command not found.

I have a project written in typescript, and I need to run the compiler in the prepare script in order to have the *.js source generated, otherwise installing from git (e.g. npm install -g "https://github.com/backtrace-labs/backtrace-morgue.git#cstrahan/test) will result in a broken package being installed.

I have tried with several versions of node (including node installed through brew) and their bundled npm, including the latest of each, and I have not seen the desired, advertised behavior.

% npm --version                                                                                                                                               
11.4.2

% node --version
v24.4.0

Expected Behavior

As stated in the docs, the packages listed in "dependencies" and "devDependencies" should be available in the installation environment during the prepare script.

Steps To Reproduce

  1. In this environment...
  2. With this config...
  3. Run '...'
  4. See error...

Environment

  • npm: 11.4.2
  • Node.js: v24.4.0
  • OS Name: macOS
  • System Model Name:
  • npm config:
; "builtin" config from /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/npm/npmrc

prefix = "/opt/homebrew"

; node bin location = /opt/homebrew/Cellar/node/24.3.0/bin/node
; node version = v24.3.0
; npm local prefix = /Users/charles.strahan
; npm version = 11.4.2
; cwd = /Users/charles.strahan
; HOME = /Users/charles.strahan
; Run `npm config ls -l` to show all defaults.

Activity

  1. cstrahan
    added
    Bugthing that needs fixing
    Needs Triageneeds review for next steps
    on Jul 17, 2025

  2. cstrahan commented on Jul 17, 2025

    @cstrahan
    cstrahan
    on Jul 17, 2025
    Author

    Okay, installing without -g works as expected:

    % npm install "https://github.com/backtrace-labs/backtrace-morgue.git#cstrahan/test" --foreground-scripts 

> backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 prepare
> tsc && npm run copy-assets


> backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 copy-assets
> cp -r assets dist/


added 1 package, and audited 540 packages in 12s

37 packages are looking for funding
  run `npm fund` for details

found 0 vulnerabilities

    but it doesn't work with -g:

    % npm install -g "https://github.com/backtrace-labs/backtrace-morgue.git#cstrahan/test" --foreground-scripts
npm error code 127
npm error git dep preparation failed
npm error command /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/bin/node /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/bin/npm-cli.js install --force --cache=/Users/charles.strahan/.npm --prefer-offline=false --prefer-online=false --offline=false --no-progress --no-save --no-audit --include=dev --include=peer --include=optional --no-package-lock-only --no-dry-run
npm error > backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 prepare
npm error > tsc && npm run copy-assets
npm error npm warn using --force Recommended protections disabled.
npm error sh: tsc: command not found
npm error npm error code 127
npm error npm error path /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone8uOUgo
npm error npm error command failed
npm error npm error command sh -c tsc && npm run copy-assets
npm error npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_06_46_036Z-debug-0.log
npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_06_40_604Z-debug-0.log

    and here's the log file:

    0 verbose cli /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/bin/node /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/bin/npm-cli.js
1 info using npm@11.4.2
2 info using node@v24.4.0
3 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/npmrc
4 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.npmrc
5 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/etc/npmrc
6 verbose title npm install
7 verbose argv "install" "--force" "--cache" "/Users/charles.strahan/.npm" "--prefer-offline" "false" "--prefer-online" "false" "--offline" "false" "--no-progress" "--no-save" "--no-audit" "--include" "dev" "--include" "peer" "--include" "optional" "--no-package-lock-only" "--no-dry-run"
8 verbose logfile logs-max:10 dir:/Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_06_46_036Z-
9 verbose logfile /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_06_46_036Z-debug-0.log
10 warn using --force Recommended protections disabled.
11 silly packumentCache heap:4496293888 maxSize:1124073472 maxEntrySize:562036736
12 silly logfile start cleaning logs, removing 1 files
13 silly logfile done cleaning log files
14 silly idealTree buildDeps
15 silly placeDep ROOT backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 OK for:  want: file:../../../../../../../.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone8uOUgo
16 silly reify mark retired [
16 silly reify   '/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/backtrace-morgue'
16 silly reify ]
17 silly reify moves {
17 silly reify   '/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/backtrace-morgue': '/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/.backtrace-morgue-GKI5Mhaj'
17 silly reify }
18 info run backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 prepare ../../../../../../../.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone8uOUgo tsc && npm run copy-assets
19 info run backtrace-morgue@1.24.11 prepare { code: 127, signal: null }
20 verbose stack Error: command failed
20 verbose stack     at promiseSpawn (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/promise-spawn/lib/index.js:22:22)
20 verbose stack     at spawnWithShell (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/promise-spawn/lib/index.js:124:10)
20 verbose stack     at promiseSpawn (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/promise-spawn/lib/index.js:12:12)
20 verbose stack     at runScriptPkg (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/run-script/lib/run-script-pkg.js:79:13)
20 verbose stack     at runScript (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/run-script/lib/run-script.js:9:12)
20 verbose stack     at /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/arborist/rebuild.js:331:17
20 verbose stack     at run (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/promise-call-limit/dist/commonjs/index.js:67:22)
20 verbose stack     at /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/promise-call-limit/dist/commonjs/index.js:84:9
20 verbose stack     at new Promise (<anonymous>)
20 verbose stack     at callLimit (/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/promise-call-limit/dist/commonjs/index.js:35:69)
21 verbose pkgid backtrace-morgue@1.24.11
22 error code 127
23 error path /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone8uOUgo
24 error command failed
25 error command sh -c tsc && npm run copy-assets
26 silly unfinished npm timer reify 1752793606195
27 silly unfinished npm timer reify:build 1752793606230
28 silly unfinished npm timer build 1752793606230
29 silly unfinished npm timer build:links 1752793606231
30 silly unfinished npm timer build:run:prepare 1752793606231
31 silly unfinished npm timer build:run:prepare:../../../../../../../.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone8uOUgo 1752793606231
32 verbose cwd /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone8uOUgo
33 verbose os Darwin 24.1.0
34 verbose node v24.4.0
35 verbose npm  v11.4.2
36 verbose exit 127
37 verbose code 127
38 error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_06_46_036Z-debug-0.log

  3. cstrahan commented on Jul 17, 2025

    @cstrahan
    cstrahan
    on Jul 17, 2025
    Author

    For comparison, here are the logs from when I didn't pass -g:

    0 verbose cli /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/bin/node /Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/bin/npm
1 info using npm@11.4.2
2 info using node@v24.4.0
3 timing npm:load:whichnode Completed in 0ms
4 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/lib/node_modules/npm/npmrc
5 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-cloneGJMxAH/.npmrc
6 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.npmrc
7 silly config load:file:/Users/charles.strahan/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.0/etc/npmrc
8 timing npm:load:configload Completed in 4ms
9 timing config:load:flatten Completed in 1ms
10 timing npm:load:mkdirpcache Completed in 0ms
11 timing npm:load:mkdirplogs Completed in 0ms
12 verbose title npm run copy-assets
13 verbose argv "run" "copy-assets"
14 timing npm:load:setTitle Completed in 7ms
15 verbose logfile logs-max:10 dir:/Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_12_54_263Z-
16 verbose logfile /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_12_54_263Z-debug-0.log
17 timing npm:load Completed in 24ms
18 silly logfile start cleaning logs, removing 1 files
19 silly logfile done cleaning log files
20 timing command:run Completed in 199ms
21 timing npm Completed in 244ms
22 info timing Timing info written to: /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_logs/2025-07-17T23_12_54_263Z-timing.json
23 verbose cwd /Users/charles.strahan/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-cloneGJMxAH
24 verbose os Darwin 24.1.0
25 verbose node v24.4.0
26 verbose npm  v11.4.2
27 verbose exit 0
28 info ok
  4. milaninfy
    added
    Priority 2secondary priority issue
    and removed
    Needs Triageneeds review for next steps
    on Jul 29, 2025
  5. milaninfy
    marked [BUG] prepare script doesn't see node_modules bin executables #6435 as a duplicate of this issue on Jul 29, 2025
  6. codefuturist
    added 3 commits that reference this issue on Feb 23, 2026

    fix: track dist/ in git for npm install from GitHub

    74a0118

    docs: update install instructions with working one-liner

    5cfd53e

    docs: make pnpm the recommended install method

    20ff2ea
  7. alvistar
    added a commit that references this issue on Apr 20, 2026

    fix(margins-cli): commit dist/ for working global install from GitHub

    9f099e8
  8. aeyeopsdev
    added a commit that references this issue on Apr 27, 2026

    Ship prebuilt dist/ and stop building during install

    5463af9
  9. Sasitilak
    added a commit that references this issue on Apr 28, 2026

    docs: install via GitHub tarball URL, not github: shorthand

    84bb720
  10. matatk
    added 5 commits that reference this issue on Jul 17, 2026

    fix: Use a different installation approach

    3d1f438

    fix: Use a different installation approach

    f928484

    fix: Use a different installation approach

    b4b04a1

    fix: Use a different installation approach

    a454ab3

    fix: Use a different installation approach

    c4771f6

  11. MacOS commented on Jul 24, 2026

    @MacOS
    MacOS
    on Jul 24, 2026

    This BUG is persisting, am I correct? I ask because I have the same issue.

  12. cirelkc
    added a commit that references this issue on Oct 5, 2026

    Make npm install -g github:... work end to end

    471e29b
  13. Silencehuliang
    added a commit that references this issue on Oct 9, 2026

    README:从源码装的写法改成两步 —— 一行 git 装踩在 npm 未修的 bug 上

    8596ac2
  14. woosal1337
    added a commit that references this issue on Oct 12, 2026

    Install ade from a package file built with npm pack

    1dc3bc3
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