Can't solve issue with bindings file (non-election related)

[bziya]

I'm trying to the [serialport package[(https://www.npmjs.com/package/serialport) to communicate with an Arduino, but I can't seem to resolve an error that I'm having with my install of serialport.

I am running:

• Windows 11 (21H2 22000.194),
• Node: 14.17.6 LTS
• npm: 7.24.1
• serialport: 9.2.3

Error log:

C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\bindings\bindings.js:135
  throw err;
  ^

Error: Could not locate the bindings file. Tried:
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\build\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\build\Debug\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\build\Release\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\out\Debug\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\Debug\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\out\Release\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\Release\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\build\default\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\compiled\14.17.6\win32\x64\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\addon-build\release\install-root\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\addon-build\debug\install-root\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\addon-build\default\install-root\bindings.node
 → C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\lib\binding\node-v83-win32-x64\bindings.node
    at bindings (C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\bindings\bindings.js:126:9)
    at Object.<anonymous> (C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\lib\win32.js:1:36)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1072:14)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1101:10)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:937:32)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:778:12)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:961:19)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:92:18)
    at Object.<anonymous> (C:\Users\redacted\redacted\node_modules\@serialport\bindings\lib\index.js:6:22)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1072:14) {
  tries: [
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\build\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\build\\Debug\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\build\\Release\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\out\\Debug\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\Debug\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\out\\Release\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\Release\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\build\\default\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\compiled\\14.17.6\\win32\\x64\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\addon-build\\release\\install-root\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\addon-build\\debug\\install-root\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\addon-build\\default\\install-root\\bindings.node',
    'C:\\Users\\redacted\\redacted\\node_modules\\@serialport\\bindings\\lib\\binding\\node-v83-win32-x64\\bindings.node'
  ]
}

So far I've tried:

1. Using nvm to switch to the long term supported version of Node.js (v14.17.6)
2. Reinstalling the build tools through the Visual Studio installer
3. Using npm rebuild
4. Reinstalling Python
5. Reinstalling the module several times

I just can't seem to get it to work. Does anyone have any ideas that I could try?

[GazHank]

Hi @Geekz45679 could you please confirm the versions of VS build tools and python that you are using?

[bziya]

@GazHank

Hi @Geekz45679 could you please confirm the versions of VS build tools and python that you are using?

Python version: v3.9.7

[GazHank]

Thanks @Geekz45679

Could you check if you have the VS build tools included in your Path environment settings? In my case while I have both 2019 and 2017 installed only 2017 is included in the path, so only that will work for the build process

If you have made config changes and reinstalls, did you try wiping your node_modules directory and performing a fresh npm install to make sure it isnt just leaving an earlier broken version of the package?

[bziya]

@GazHank Unfortunately that didn't seem to do the trick. Here is how I have it set up:

[GazHank]

@GazHank Unfortunately that didn't seem to do the trick.

Here is how I have it set up:

Hmm, since you have python v2 in your path can you check it isnt trying to use that version for the build?

Also, are you using the --build-from-source option?

[ed-val]

It took me a while to solve this one out. I had the same issue as it is non-electron related. When I first installed serialport, npm warns about the node-gyp 9.0.0 library having compatibility issues with the node I was using at the time, and it also gives you compatible versions suggestions. (I was not able to replicate this warnings and get you a screenshot, sorry).

I only had this problem on Windows so I followed the node-gyp installation guide for windows: https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp#installation then use nvm-windows: https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows to install a node compatible version (14.13.0) then changed it and restart the node command prompt.

Hope this helps someone.

Using: Windows 10 Pro (19041.388) Node: 14.4.0 LTS (worked with 14.13.0) npm: 6.14.5 serialport: 9.2.0