René's URL Explorer Experiment

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"DiscussionForumPosting","headline":"electron-packager fails in npm workspaces monorepo","articleBody":"# Issue: electron-packager fails in npm workspaces monorepo\n\n## Problem\n\nThe `npm run package` script in the `app/` workspace fails to run correctly when executed from either:\n- The monorepo root: `npm run package --workspace=app`\n- Inside the app directory: `cd app \u0026\u0026 npm run package`\n\nThe packaging process with `electron-packager` does not work properly in the npm workspaces environment.\n\n## Current Workaround\n\nTo successfully package the application:\n\n1. Copy the entire `app/` folder outside of the monorepo root\n2. Navigate into the copied folder\n3. Run `npm install` (this creates a local `node_modules/` in the copied folder)\n4. Run `npm run package`\n5. This successfully creates the packaged application\n\n## Technical Details\n\n### Root Cause\n\nThe issue stems from how npm workspaces manages dependencies:\n\n1. **Hoisted Dependencies**: In npm workspaces, dependencies are hoisted to the root `node_modules/` directory\n2. **No Local node_modules**: The `app/` workspace folder does not contain its own `node_modules/` directory\n3. **electron-packager Expectations**: `electron-packager` appears to search for dependencies using relative paths from the package being built\n4. **Path Resolution Failure**: When running in a workspace, `electron-packager` cannot find dependencies because they're at `../../node_modules/` instead of `./node_modules/`\n\n### Current Package Script\n\n```json\n{\n  \"scripts\": {\n    \"package\": \"npm run clean \u0026\u0026 electron-packager . --overwrite\"\n  }\n}\n```\n\n### Workspace Structure\n\n```\nkinectron-monorepo/\n├── node_modules/          ← All dependencies hoisted here\n├── package.json           ← Workspace root\n├── app/\n│   ├── package.json\n│   └── (no node_modules)  ← This is the problem\n├── client/\n└── examples/\n```\n\n### What Works\n\nWhen `app/` is copied outside the monorepo:\n- `npm install` creates a local `node_modules/` in the app folder\n- `electron-packager` finds all dependencies in the expected location\n- Packaging completes successfully\n\n## Possible Solutions\n\n### Option 1: Configure electron-packager for Workspaces (Quick Fix)\n\nAdd explicit configuration to handle workspace structure:\n\n```json\n{\n  \"scripts\": {\n    \"package\": \"npm run clean \u0026\u0026 electron-packager . --overwrite --no-prune --ignore='^/(?!app)'\"\n  }\n}\n```\n\nConsiderations:\n- `--no-prune` may include unnecessary files\n- May need to explicitly set `--ignore` patterns\n- Not guaranteed to work with hoisted dependencies\n\n### Option 2: Use Electron Forge (Recommended)\n\nMigrate from `electron-packager` to Electron Forge, which has better monorepo support:\n\n1. Install Electron Forge: `npm install --save-dev @electron-forge/cli`\n2. Initialize: `npx electron-forge import`\n3. Configure `forge.config.js` to work with workspace structure\n4. Update package script: `\"package\": \"electron-forge package\"`\n\nBenefits:\n- Better maintained and modern\n- Built-in support for monorepos\n- More configuration options\n- Better documentation\n\n### Option 3: Custom Packaging Script\n\nCreate a Node.js script that handles workspace-specific packaging:\n\n```javascript\n// scripts/package-app.js\nimport packager from 'electron-packager';\nimport path from 'path';\nimport { fileURLToPath } from 'url';\n\nconst __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));\nconst rootDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');\n\npackager({\n  dir: path.join(rootDir, 'app'),\n  out: path.join(rootDir, 'dist'),\n  overwrite: true,\n  // Explicitly point to root node_modules\n  electronVersion: require('electron/package.json').version,\n  // ... other options\n});\n```\n\nThen update package.json:\n```json\n{\n  \"scripts\": {\n    \"package\": \"node scripts/package-app.js\"\n  }\n}\n```\n\n### Option 4: Use electron-builder Instead\n\nReplace `electron-packager` with `electron-builder`:\n\n1. Install: `npm install --save-dev electron-builder`\n2. Add build configuration to `app/package.json`\n3. Update script: `\"package\": \"electron-builder\"`\n\n`electron-builder` has better support for complex project structures.\n\n## Recommendation\n\n**Best long-term solution**: Migrate to **Electron Forge** (Option 2)\n- Industry standard\n- Active maintenance\n- Built for modern projects\n- Good monorepo support\n- Easier auto-updates\n\n**Quick fix**: Try **Option 1** with `--no-prune` and explicit node_modules paths\n\n## Related Files\n\n- [app/package.json](app/package.json:11) - Current package script\n- [package.json](package.json) - Workspace configuration\n\n## Environment\n\n- OS: Windows (MSYS_NT-10.0-26100)\n- Node.js: (current version)\n- npm workspaces: enabled\n- electron-packager: ^17.1.2\n","author":{"url":"https://github.com/lisajamhoury","@type":"Person","name":"lisajamhoury"},"datePublished":"2025-10-09T20:51:32.000Z","interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":"https://schema.org/CommentAction","userInteractionCount":0},"url":"https://github.com/127/kinectron/issues/127"}