The EHOOKFAILED error occurs when an npm lifecycle script (preinstall, postinstall, prepare, etc.) fails during package installation. Debug the failing script, fix any missing dependencies, or skip scripts temporarily if needed.
This error means a lifecycle hook script defined in a package's package.json failed during execution. npm runs these scripts automatically at specific points: preinstall runs before installation, postinstall after, prepare before publishing, and so on. When any of these scripts exits with a non-zero status code, npm halts the installation process and reports EHOOKFAILED. The actual cause could be anything from a syntax error in the script to missing build tools like Python or a C++ compiler needed for native modules. The error often appears when installing packages that need to compile native addons (like node-sass, bcrypt, or sharp) or when packages run custom setup scripts that depend on specific system configurations.
Look at the error output to find which package and script failed:
npm ERR! code EHOOKFAILED
npm ERR! [email protected] postinstall: `node scripts/build.js`
npm ERR! Exit status 1The package name (node-sass) and script (postinstall) tell you what to investigate.
Many native modules require build tools. Install them based on your platform:
Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt-get install build-essential python3macOS:
xcode-select --installWindows:
npm install --global windows-build-toolsCorrupted cache can cause script failures:
npm cache clean --force
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm installThis ensures a fresh installation without cached artifacts.
If you need to proceed without the failing script:
npm install --ignore-scriptsWarning: This skips all lifecycle scripts, which may leave packages improperly configured. Use only for debugging or when you know the scripts aren't essential.
Build scripts can run out of memory, especially in containers:
export NODE_OPTIONS="--max-old-space-size=4096"
npm installIn Docker, ensure your container has sufficient memory allocation (4GB+ recommended for large builds).
Some packages require specific Node.js versions:
node --versionCheck the failing package's package.json for an engines field, and use nvm to switch versions if needed:
nvm install 18
nvm use 18
npm installIn CI/CD environments, EHOOKFAILED often stems from differences between the CI environment and local development machines. Ensure your CI configuration installs the same system dependencies available locally.
For Docker builds, use multi-stage builds to separate the installation phase. If a script fails, the build fails early rather than wasting time on subsequent steps. Consider using Alpine-based images with care, as they use musl instead of glibc, which can break some native modules.
Security note: lifecycle scripts run arbitrary code during installation. If you're concerned about supply chain attacks, use npm install --ignore-scripts followed by manually running only trusted scripts, or audit packages before installation.
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