Solution for npm install fails with node-gyp error: memory file not found

Short version: Delete Xcode command line tools and reinstall them.

Scenario

Problem:

For a NPM package the dependencies should be installed. NPM install command is run and suddenly fails with an error caused by node-gyp.

Command:

npm install

Output:

Error message:

Fatal error: ‘memory’ file not found

Result:

npm install fails

Context

The npm install command tries to use node-gyp and to build a needed dependency. Node-gyp is complicated, as it is a cross-platform tool for compiling native modules for Node.js. Its readme provides some guidance on how to ensure that it works. The problem start when it should work, but isn’t. Looking at Google, this is a common case.

My computer is a Mac:

For Mac, node-gyp lists the Xcode command line tools as a requirement.

Checking if the tools are installed:

xcode-select --install

Output:

xcode-select: note: Command line tools are already installed. Use “Software Update” in System Settings or the softwareupdate command line interface to install updates

I came across the issue “Can not build on macOS 14.6.1 with clang 16” and answer:

Solution

Delete Xcode command line tools and reinstall them

Remove Xcode Command Line Tools

First, find out the directory where the tools are installed:

xcode-select -p

Result:

/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

Next: delete the directory. You need to have admin rights!

sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

Running xcode-select to show the installation folder points now to a different one:

xcode-select -p

Result:

/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

Installation of Xcode Command Line Tools

Install the tools again:

xcode-select --install

Result:

The Xcode Command Line Tools are installed again.

Result

Running npm install again

npm i

No compile error. Problem solved.