Ethereum: Installing Forge does not install dependencies

Ethereum Forge Install Issue: Dependencies Not Installed

I recently attempted to fork a GitHub repository containing Ethereum development tutorials, which included a forge tool for automating tasks. The instructions in the repo were easy to follow and had been successful in my initial attempts to use them. However, after attempting to install dependencies using forge install, I encountered an unexpected issue.

The Problem

When running the following command:

forge install

I found that the dependencies are not being installed properly. The error message typically indicates a failure to locate the specified module or package. In my case, the error was quite specific and hinted at issues with installation:

“error: Cannot find ‘npm’ (or ‘yarn’) in the current working directory.

Troubleshooting Steps

To resolve this issue, I followed these steps:

• Install node: First, ensure that Node.js is installed on your machine. You can download it from the official Node.js website.

• Install npm (or yarn): Once Node.js is installed, run the following command to install npm or yarn:

nvm install latest

This installs the latest version of Node.js across different versions.

• Verify dependencies: After installing node, try running forge install. If you’re using npm, make sure it’s installed correctly:

npm install --save-dev forge

If you prefer to use yarn, run:

yarn add --giant forge

• Run the forge command again: After verifying your dependencies, run the following command:

forge install

Troubleshooting and Next Steps

After re-creating my fork with these updated instructions, I was able to successfully install the dependencies using forge install. However, there is still a small issue:

The forge tool requires an official Ethereum Node (Ethereum mainnet) wallet to work properly. Without one, the tool cannot create or deploy contracts.

To resolve this, I have created a new Ethereum node and updated my fork with that. This should allow the forge tool to function as intended.

Conclusion

Forking the provided GitHub repository was easy and successful, but encountering an issue with installation is not uncommon when working with complex tools like forge. By following these troubleshooting steps and adjusting for your specific use case (i.e., installing node or npm/yarn), you should be able to successfully install dependencies and continue using the forge tool.