Using npm install on macOS Catalina with Node v8.x and npm v6.x results in a node-rebuilder error: “No Apple Developer Tools found!”
$ npm ci
> [email protected] prepare /example/path/node_modules/fileWatcher
> node-wrapper rebuild
Error: Apple Developer Tools missing.
It appears that the issue stems from the absence of the required build tools on macOS. In my experience, installing the Xcode Command Line Tools using the command “xcode-select --install” resolved the node-gyp rebuild error immediately. Once installed, the npm install process completed without further errors. Additionally, it might be necessary to confirm the active developer path with “xcode-select -p” to ensure proper setup. This approach frequently resolves the problem on systems where Node.js and npm installations encounter similar issues.