Development server fails to launch in Next.js project

Other Questions NPM
1

I’m new to Next.js and I’m having trouble getting a project up and running. I downloaded a template to practice with, but when I try to start the dev server using npm run dev, I get an error saying the script is missing.

Here’s what happens when I run npm run:

Lifecycle scripts included in [email protected]:
test
  echo "Error: no test specified" && exit 1

I’m confused because I’ve done other Next.js projects before and never had this issue. I expected it to work normally. Has anyone else run into this problem? How can I fix it and get the development server started?

I checked the package.json file, but I’m not sure what I should be looking for. Is there something I need to add or change? Any help would be great. I really want to start working on this project and see it in my browser.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

2

It appears your package.json file is missing the necessary scripts for Next.js. This is a common issue when working with templates or starter projects. To resolve this, open your package.json file and ensure it contains the following scripts:

"scripts": {
  "dev": "next dev",
  "build": "next build",
  "start": "next start"
}

Add these if they’re not present. Also, verify that Next.js is listed in your dependencies. If it’s not, run npm install next. After making these changes, try npm run dev again. If you’re still encountering issues, consider initializing a fresh Next.js project using npx create-next-app to compare configurations.

3

hey mate, sounds like ur package.json might be missing the dev script. try adding this to ur scripts section:

“dev”: “next dev”

if that doesnt work, make sure u got next installed properly. sometimes npm can be weird. u could try deleting node_modules and package-lock.json, then run npm install again.

good luck!

4

I’ve run into this exact problem before, and it can be super frustrating. From what you’re describing, it sounds like the template you downloaded might be incomplete or corrupted. Here’s what worked for me:

First, I’d double-check the package.json file. Look for a ‘scripts’ section - if it’s not there or it’s empty, that’s your issue. You’ll need to add the Next.js scripts manually.

If that doesn’t solve it, try creating a fresh Next.js project with ‘npx create-next-app’ and then copy over your existing code piece by piece. This way, you can ensure all the necessary configurations are in place.

Also, make sure you’re in the correct directory when running npm commands. I’ve embarrassingly spent hours debugging only to realize I was in the wrong folder!

Hope this helps. Let us know if you get it working!