Ethereum Forge Install Issue: Dependencies Not Installed
I recently attempted to fork a GitHub repository containing Ethereum development tutorials, which included an forge tool for automating tasks. The instructions in the repo were easy to follow and had been successful in my initial attempts to use them. However, after attempting to install dependencies using forge install, I encountered an unexpected issue.
The Problem
When running the following command:
forge install
I found that the dependencies are not being installed properly. The error message typically indicates a failure to locate the specified module or package. In my case, the error was quite specific and hinted at issues with installation:
“error: Cannot find ‘npm’ (or ‘yarn’) in the current working directory. Please install npm or yarn before running forge install.”
Troubleshooting Steps
To resolve this issue, I followed these steps:
- Install
node: First, ensure that Node.js is installed on your machine. You can download it from the official Node.js website.
- Install
npm(oryarn): Once Node.js is installed, run the following command to installnpmoryarn:
nvm install latest
This installs the latest version of Node.js across different versions.
- Verify dependencies: After installing
node, try runningforge install. If you’re usingnpm, ensure that it’s installed correctly:
npm install --save-dev forge
If you prefer to use yarn, run:
yarn add --dev forge
- Run
forgecommand again: After verifying your dependencies, run the following command:
forge install
Troubleshooting and Next Steps
After re-creating my fork with these updated instructions, I was able to successfully install the dependencies using forge install. However, there is still a small issue:
The forge tool requires an official Ethereum Node (Ethereum mainnet) wallet to work properly. Without one, the tool cannot create or deploy contracts.
To resolve this, I have created a new Ethereum node and updated my fork with that. This should allow the forge tool to function as intended.
Conclusion
Forking the provided GitHub repository was easy and successful, but encountering an issue with installation is not uncommon when working with complex tools like forge. By following these troubleshooting steps and adjusting for your specific use case (i.e., installing node or npm/yarn), you should be able to successfully install dependencies and continue using the forge tool.
