Launcher > Developing command `node index.js` fails

[MikeMcC399]

Current behavior

packages/launcher/README > Developing instructions fail with code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND'

The instructions are:

To see browsers detected on your machine, just run:

node index.js

The file packages/launcher/index.js does not exist.

Desired behavior

packages/launcher/README > Developing should give working instructions for contributors.

Test code to reproduce

git clone https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress
cd cypress
yarn workspace @packages/launcher install
cd packages/launcher
node index.js

Cypress Version

First reported on version: 13.11.0 Still not fixed in: 14.1.0

Node version

~~v18.17.1~~ v20.18.1LTS

Operating System

Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS and 24.04.1 LTS

Debug Logs

$ node index.js
node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1080
  throw err;
  ^

Error: Cannot find module '/home/mike/github/cypress-io/cypress/packages/launcher/index.js'
    at Module._resolveFilename (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1077:15)
    at Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:922:27)
    at Function.executeUserEntryPoint [as runMain] (node:internal/modules/run_main:81:12)
    at node:internal/main/run_main_module:23:47 {
  code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
  requireStack: []
}

Node.js v18.17.1

Other

• The instructions worked until https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/pull/15646 was merged in Apr 2021 for Cypress 7.0.1
• Attempting to use node index.ts instead leads to other errors.

[jennifer-shehane]

Yah I have a feeling a few of these Readmes are out of date. I try to update them when I see something is not right.

[MikeMcC399]

@jennifer-shehane

Yah I have a feeling a few of these Readmes are out of date. I try to update them when I see something is not right.

Unfortunately I don't have the TypeScript skills to work this out on my own. I was hoping I might be able to somehow get closer to fixing the Firefox / Docker / non-root compatibility issue, but I didn't get very far with this. It's not too critical since the workaround is well documented. It would just be nice to sort it out sometime. And to do this, it would be very handy to run the module standalone.

[cypress-app-bot]

This issue has not had any activity in 180 days. Cypress evolves quickly and the reported behavior should be tested on the latest version of Cypress to verify the behavior is still occurring. It will be closed in 14 days if no updates are provided.

[MikeMcC399]

The issue remains unresolved in Cypress 13.16.1 (499c361636).

The file index.js (packages/launcher/index.js), referred to in the instructions, no longer exists.

The instructions continue to fail for the above reason:

yarn workspace @packages/launcher install
cd packages/launcher
node index.js

To resolve the issue, a change needs to be made to

https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/blob/develop/packages/launcher/README.md#developing

[cypress-app-bot]

This issue has not had any activity in 180 days. Cypress evolves quickly and the reported behavior should be tested on the latest version of Cypress to verify the behavior is still occurring. It will be closed in 14 days if no updates are provided.

[MikeMcC399]

https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/issues/29697#issuecomment-2544995468 applies to Cypress 15.0.0. The commands don't work and nobody has suggested any alternative.