Module not found: Can't resolve 'rdf-canonize-native' during build in RDFLib dependency

[danielbakas]

Hi!

While building a Next.js project that includes RDFLib ([email protected]), the build fails due to a missing module error in rdf-canonize:

Module not found: Can't resolve 'rdf-canonize-native' in '.../node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected]/node_modules/rdf-canonize/lib'

This error seems to originate from rdf-canonize, which is a dependency of jsonld, which in turn is required by RDFLib.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create a Next.js project ([email protected]).
2. Install [email protected] using pnpm.
3. Run next build.

Expected Behavior

The build should complete successfully without missing dependencies.

Actual Behavior

• The build fails with Module not found: Can't resolve 'rdf-canonize-native'.
• The issue appears in the dependency chain: rdflib → jsonld → rdf-canonize.
• A separate TypeError: Cannot set properties of undefined (setting 'WordArray') also appears in the logs.

Environment

• Package Manager: pnpm
• RDFLib Version: 2.2.37
• Next.js Version: 15.2.1
• Node.js Version: 23.9.0

Attempts to solve

• Add rdf-canonize-native dependency → Failed (different error) at installation

Full Log

next dev

   ▲ Next.js 15.2.1
   - Local:        http://localhost:3000
   - Network:      http://192.168.68.105:3000

 ✓ Starting...
 ✓ Ready in 2.7s
 ○ Compiling / ...
 ⚠ ./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected]/node_modules/rdf-canonize/lib/index.js
Module not found: Can't resolve 'rdf-canonize-native' in '.../node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected]/node_modules/rdf-canonize/lib'

Import trace for requested module:
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected]/node_modules/rdf-canonize/lib/index.js
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected]/node_modules/rdf-canonize/index.js
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected][email protected]/node_modules/jsonld/lib/jsonld.js
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected][email protected]/node_modules/jsonld/lib/index.js
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected][email protected]/node_modules/rdflib/esm/jsonldparser.js
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected][email protected]/node_modules/rdflib/esm/fetcher.js
./node_modules/.pnpm/[email protected][email protected]/node_modules/rdflib/esm/index.js

Conclusion

Thank you in advance!!!

[danielbakas]

Related to https://github.com/digitalbazaar/rdf-canonize-native/issues/10

[davidlehn]

https://github.com/digitalbazaar/jsonld.js/issues/567#issuecomment-2707527873

[bourgeoa]

Can I do anything to help resolve this issue. Is it a new version issue ?

[tonybranfort]

I don't understand the potential implications, but reading the notes above and https://github.com/digitalbazaar/jsonld.js/issues/567, this works for me using webpack v5.92.

  resolve: {
    fallback: {
      "rdf-canonize-native": false
    }      
  }

I received the error since at least rdflib v2.2.12 and is still occurring in v2.2.35.

Thank you @danielbakas asking and following up with rdflib and jsonld.