Help! I’m stuck with an npm error when trying to run my Node.js app.
I typed npm start in the command line, hoping to get my app up and running. But instead, I got hit with this weird error message:
npm ERR! missing script: start
The full error log is pretty long, but it looks like npm can’t find a start script in my package.json file. I’m not sure what to do next.
Has anyone run into this before? How do I fix it? I’m still new to Node.js, so any advice would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!
yo, i’ve seen this before. sounds like ur package.json is missing the start script. open it up and add something like:
“scripts”: {
“start”: “node index.js”
}
replace index.js with ur main file. that should fix it. lmk if u need more help!
The error indicates that the ‘start’ script is missing in your package.json file, which prevents npm from determining how to launch your application. To resolve this, open your package.json file and locate the scripts section. If it isn’t present, create one and add a line defining the start script. For example, you might add a section like this:
"scripts": {
"start": "node app.js"
}
Be sure to replace ‘app.js’ with the appropriate entry point for your application. Once you have saved these changes, running npm start should execute your app as expected.
Been there, done that! This error’s a classic for Node.js newbies. Here’s the deal: your package.json file is missing the crucial ‘start’ script. No worries, though - it’s an easy fix.
First, locate your package.json file. Open it up in your favorite text editor. Look for a ‘scripts’ section. If it’s not there, add one. Then, insert a ‘start’ script that points to your main file. It’ll look something like this:
“scripts”: {
“start”: “node server.js”
}
Replace ‘server.js’ with whatever your main file is called. Save the file, then try ‘npm start’ again. Should work like a charm!
Pro tip: while you’re in there, consider adding other useful scripts like ‘dev’ for development mode or ‘test’ for running your test suite. It’ll save you time in the long run. Good luck with your project!