How to resolve npm ERR! Missing script: "start" issue when attempting to run npm start

[olivias]

I’m encountering difficulties while trying to launch my Node.js application. When I run the start command, it shows an error indicating that the start script cannot be found.

D:\Projects\myapp>npm start
npm ERR! Missing script: "start"
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Did you mean one of these?
npm ERR!     npm star # Mark your favorite packages
npm ERR!     npm stars # View packages marked as favorites

D:\Projects\myapp>yarn start
yarn run v1.22.19
warning package.json: No license field
error Command "start" not found.

I’ve tried both npm and yarn, but the error persists with each. What might I be missing? Should I add something to my package.json file? I’m quite new to Node.js and finding this quite challenging. Any assistance would be appreciated!

[benmoore]

The error you’re experiencing is likely due to the absence of a start script in your package.json file. To resolve this, open the package.json and locate the scripts section. If it doesn’t exist, you can create one. For instance, if your main file is named app.js, you can add “start”: “node app.js” under scripts. This issue often arises in projects where initial setup has been overlooked, and it’s essential to identify the correct entry point, which can usually be found in the main field of your package.json or by looking for files like app.js or server.js.

[Zack_45Gaming]

totally understand your frustration! just make sure your package.json has a scripts section. like, if it’s not there, add “scripts”: {“start”: “node yourfilename.js”} but replace yourfilename with whatever your main js file is. it’s usually server.js or app.js, right?

[Samuel87]

Your package.json is missing a start script. Open it up and look for the scripts section - if it’s empty or not there, add something like “start”: “node index.js” (or whatever your main file is). I hit this exact problem when I cloned a repo that didn’t have scripts set up. Developers sometimes forget to include the start script or just assume you’ll know which file to run. Not sure what your entry point should be? Check the main field in package.json or look for app.js, server.js, or index.js in your project folder.