npm ERR! Missing script: "dev" [Solved]

npm ERR! Missing script: "dev" [Solved] #

The npm ERR! Missing script: "dev" error occurs for multiple reasons:

1. Missing a dev script in the scripts section of your package.json file.
2. Opening your IDE or shell in a directory that doesn't contain your package.json file.
3. Not having initialized a package.json file for your project.
4. Having multiple scripts objects in your package.json file.

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npm ERR! Missing script: "dev"
npm ERR!
npm ERR! To see a list of scripts, run:
npm ERR!   npm run

To solve the npm ERR! Missing script: "dev" error, make sure to add a dev command to the scripts object in your package.json file and open your shell or IDE in the root directory of your project before running the npm run dev command.

First, make sure your package.json file has a dev command in the scripts object.

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{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "node index.js"
  }
}

The dev command in your package.json file depends on your setup and the environment your code is run in.

If the command is named something else in your package.json file, you either have to rename it to dev, or run the command with its specified name, e.g. npm run development.

If you have a dev command in the scripts object in your package.json file, make sure you are opening your IDE and shell in the root directory of your project.

If you try to run the command from a different directory, it won't find your package.json file and the Missing script: "dev" npm error is caused.

If you don't have a package.json file, create one by opening your terminal in your project's root directory and running the command npm init -y.

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npm init -y

Now you can add a dev command in the scripts object of your package.json file.

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{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "node index.js",
  }
}

This causes the error because the second scripts object overrides the first, and your dev command might only be present in your first scripts object.

If you don't want to add a dev command to the scripts in your package.json file, you can run the command directly from your shell (assuming you have the specific package installed globally).

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node index.js

Conclusion #

To solve the npm ERR! Missing script: "dev" error, make sure to add a dev command to the scripts object in your package.json file and open your shell or IDE in the root directory of your project before running the npm run dev command.