Question
How to install Node modules on app platform in Rails app
- Posted on October 8, 2020
- Ruby on RailsNode.jsDigitalOcean App Platform
Asked by vianettim
Hello. I’m evaluating the app platform to see if we can migrate our Ruby on Rails app to here from Heroku. I tried adding npm install as a build command, and I can see it output in the logs while building the app, but it doesn’t appear to be succeeding as we’re getting an error while precompiling assets. The missing asset is one that gets installed via npm. So, my question is: what is the “correct way” to do an npm install before a Rails app precompiles assets? Do I need to add commands to install nodejs and npm (I’ve tried this to no avail)? Thanks
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I had the same issue and the same hypothesis. Upon further inspection, I noticed a tiny little error in the log.
That’ll do it! I tried running
yarn install --frozen-lockfilelocally and, indeed, it failed. The digital ocean buildpack appears to continue building if that fails, though, and goes on to runrake assets:precompile.The solution was to run
yarn installlocally, which updatedyarn.lock, then redeploy.@vianettim 👋
The ruby/rails buildpack will automatically install node modules and run
assets:precompileas part of the build process. Currentlynpmisn’t available by default in that image, justyarnfor now, which we’re tracking internally and plan to address. In the meantime, if you need to interact with node, you should useyarninstead ofnpm.Alternatively, if you need a more flexible or customized environment, you can build with a Dockerfile.
Thanks for using the App Platform — happy coding!