Troubleshooting “command not found” Error when Installing create-react-app

Create-react-app Installation Error: “Command Not Found”

If you’ve encountered the dreaded “Command not found” error while trying to install create-react-app, don’t worry, you’re not alone. This error often occurs due to a misconfiguration or environment variable issue. In this blog post, we’ll explore some common solutions to help you troubleshoot and resolve this problem.

Solution 1: Adjusting the NPM Prefix

An issue with the NPM prefix might be causing the create-react-app command to not be recognized. To fix this, follow these steps:

$ npm config set prefix /usr/local
$ sudo npm install -g create-react-app
$ create-react-app my-app

By setting the NPM prefix to /usr/local and reinstalling create-react-app globally, you should be able to run the command without any errors.

Solution 2: Check Environment Variables

If the create-react-app command shows a path along with the error message, it means that the environment variables are not set properly. To resolve this, follow these steps:

Copy the provided path and add it to the environment variable. For example:

create-react-app

Alternatively, you can use the command:

npx create-react-app <app_name>

This command automatically detects the create-react-app package and runs it without the need for setting environment variables, saving you from any potential configuration issues.

Solution 3: Check Node Setup and Environment Variables

If you’re unable to run any global Node commands, including create-react-app, it’s possible that your Node setup is incorrect. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

1. Check if the directory ~/.node_modules_global/bin exists, which contains global command executables for Bash.

2. Add the directory to the PATH environment variable:

~/.node_modules_global/bin
PATH

If you’re using Bash, add the following line to your .profile:

export PATH=$HOME/.node_modules_global/bin:$PATH

Save the file, restart the terminal, and try running the create-react-app command again.

Solution 4: Use npx Instead of npm

In recent versions of npm (5.2+), the npx command is introduced as a package runner tool. Instead of installing create-react-app globally, you can use npx to run it directly without any installation steps:

npx create-react-app my-app

This command fetches the create-react-app package on demand and runs it, eliminating any potential installation or environment variable issues.

Solution 5: Install Node.js and npm Correctly

If you’re facing installation or permission-related errors, it might be due to an incorrect installation of Node.js and npm. Follow these steps to ensure a correct installation:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs
sudo apt install npm

To fix potential permission denied errors, you can use sudo while installing the create-react-app package:

sudo npm install -g create-react-app
create-react-app my-app

Using sudo allows you to install packages globally and resolves any permission-related issues that might arise during the installation process.

Conclusion

Encountering the “Command not found” error while attempting to install create-react-app can be frustrating. However, by following the solutions provided in this blog post, you should be able to resolve the issue and continue with your React development workflow smoothly. Remember to double-check your environment variables, Node.js setup, and try using npx if all else fails. Happy coding!

reference : 

reactjs