Inherited project says to run npm install to install packages for project. But when I do I get the following error:

npm ERR! Invalid dependency type requested: alias

In the log I can see the following messages:

212 silly fetchPackageMetaData error for redux-form-7@npm:[email protected] Invalid dependency type requested: alias

...

2744 verbose stack Error: Invalid dependency type requested: alias

2744 verbose stack at getFetcher (/Users/rich/.nvm/versions/node/v10.15.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/pacote/lib/fetch.js:68:15)

2744 verbose stack at manifest (/Users/rich/.nvm/versions/node/v10.15.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/pacote/lib/fetch.js:15:19)

2744 verbose stack at pinflight (/Users/rich/.nvm/versions/node/v10.15.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/pacote/manifest.js:24:12)

...

In package.json is the following:

{ "dependencies": { "redux-form": "5.3.3", "redux-form-7": "npm:[email protected]" }
}

I've googled and searched SO but I can't find what this dependency syntax is meant to do or what the error means?

4 Answers

npm >= 6.9.0 can handle aliases, .

4

Edit: at the time of writing, this feature was not supported by npm. See Andrew's answer for which versions of npm now support it.

Original answer:

It seems this is a feature of yarn and not npm.

Using yarn to install packages worked fine with this package.json.

If you are still having troubles upgrading to the latest version of npm, due to the same "ERR! Invalid dependency type requested: alias" error, then do the following:

1. First install npm v6.9.0. As previous versions didn't have alias support, it will install fine. Thanks andrewkittredge!

   npm i -g [email protected]

2. Then you can upgrade to the latest version of npm

   npm i -g npm@latest

1

Under Mac OS this worked for me

1. Delete the folder /Users/userName/.npm (this is a hidden folder, so you have to unhide hidden folders first with keyboard shortcut "Command" + "Shift" + "." if you want to delete it via the Finder)
2. sudo npm i -g npm@latest

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password Submit

Post as a guest

Post Your Answer Discard

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.