Cannot find runtime 'node' on PATH - Visual Studio Code and Node.js - node.js

Question

With a downloaded and installed version of Visual Studio Code 1.2.1, and a 64bit version of node.exe msi placed in my working directory (I am assuming that is correct), how do we add node and npm command line tools to be on our PATH? I am confused in understanding that statement. Where and how do we implement that? I am quoting this requirement directly from the top of this resource page - https://code.visualstudio.com/Docs/runtimes/nodejs
As a result of my current situation, I set a break-point in an app.js file. And when I hit F5, it tells me...
Cannot find runtime 'node' on PATH
I am completely lost in understanding and fixing this issue in Visual Studio Code.

Answer 1

On OSX and VSCode 1.56.2 all I had to do was to close and restart VSCode and the problem went away.

Answer 2

first run below commands as super user
sudo code . --user-data-dir='.'
it will open the visual code studio import the folder of your project and set the launch.json as below
{
"version": "0.2.0",
"configurations": [
{
"type": "node",
"request": "launch",
"name": "Launch Program",
"program": "${workspaceFolder}/app/release/web.js",
"outFiles": [
"${workspaceFolder}/**/*.js"
],
"runtimeExecutable": "/root/.nvm/versions/node/v8.9.4/bin/node"
}
]
}
path of runtimeExecutable will be output of "which node" command.
Run the server in debug mode.

Answer 3

To follow up, I just ran into this as well. When I installed Node.js there was an option that said Add to PATH (Available After Restart). Seems like Windows just needs a restart to make things work.

Answer 4

Quick fix that works for me. Navigate to the root directory of your folder from command line (cmd). then once you are on your root directory, type:
code .
Then, press enter. Note the ".", don't forget it. Now try to debug and see if you get the same error.

Answer 5

Apply a Default Node Version via NVM
I'm using macOS Big Sur and setting the default version via nvm fixed this for me by running this command: nvm alias default 16 (change 16 to the version you want as your default).
Note that node worked fine in the terminal for me (both with zsh and bash) but not when running via the vscode debugger and I already had the following config in both ~/.zshrc and ~/.bash_profile to load in nvm:
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" # This loads nvm bash_completion
It wasn't until I set the default Node version that vscode would launch node targets just fine.

Answer 6

I did which node on my terminal:
/usr/local/bin/node
and then i added
"runtimeExecutable": "/usr/local/bin/node" in my json file.

Answer 7

For me, the node binary is in PATH and I can run it from the terminal (iTerm or Terminal), and the Terminal apps are set to use zsh
If you are on a Mac, with iTerm and Zsh, please use the following VSCode settings for Node to work.
After this change, you can get rid of this line from your launch.json config file. (the debug settings in VSCode)
"runtimeExecutable": "/usr/local/bin/node"
If this doesn't work, make sure you choose the default shell as zsh. To do this,
Open the command palette using Cmd+Shift+P
Look for the Terminal: Select Default Shell command
Select zsh from the options

Answer 8

So node got kicked out of path. you can do
SET PATH=C:\Program Files\Nodejs;%PATH%
Or simply reinstall node to fix this. which ever you think is easiest for you

Answer 9

Had the same issue and in my case it was a problem with a vs code extension. Try running code as:
$ code --disable-extensions
Once in the editor, I ran my program in the debug mode and worked, and then started code with
$ code
And it continued working fine.
Hope it works for you.

Answer 10

I had a similar issue with zsh and nvm on Linux, I fixed it by adding nvm initialization script in ~/.profile and restart login session like this
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

Answer 11

I use /bin/zsh, and I changed vscode to do the same, but somehow vscode still use the path from /bin/bash. So I created a .bash_profile file with node location in the path.
Simply run in terminal:
echo "PATH=$PATH
export \$PATH" >> ~/.bash_profile
Restart vscode, and it will work.

Answer 12

I also ran into this error. Restart the PC works for me.

Answer 13

Do not launch the VS code from the start menu separately. Use
$Code .
command to launch VS code. Now, create your file with the extension .js and Start debugging (F5) it. It will be executed.
Otherwise, restart your system and follow the same process.

Answer 14

The cause for me receiving this error was trying the new pre-release VSCode JS debugger.
If you opted in, change via User settings:
"debug.javascript.usePreview": true|false
Everything in my normal configuration and integrated terminal was correct and finding executables. I wasted a lot of time trying other things!

Answer 15

(CMD+SHIFT+P) Shell command: Install 'code' command in PATH
should do the trick!

Answer 16

Just relaunch your project from the termial
e.g. yourprojectdir code .

Answer 17

i resolved this problem after disable ESLint extention.

Answer 18

I am on OSX, this did not work for me:
code . --user-data-dir='.'
but this DID work:
code . -data-dir='.'

Answer 19

This is the solution according to the VS code debugging page.
This worked for my setup on Windows 10.
"version": "0.2.0",
"configurations": [
{
"type": "node",
"request": "launch",
"name": "Launch Program",
"program": "${file}"
}
The solution is here:
https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/debugging
Here is the launch configuration generated for Node.js debugging

Answer 20

I also encountered this issue. Did the following and it got fixed.
Open your computer terminal (not VSCode terminal) and type node --version to ensure you have node installed. If not, then install node using nvm.
Then head to your bash file (eg .bashrc, .bash_profile, .profile) and add the PATH:
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"
If you have multiple bash files, you ensure to add the PATH to all of them.
Restart your VSCode terminal and it should be fine.

Answer 21

Mine was more project specific. We use "Auto Reload" to run our launch.json for the backend. The error states the file path of the runtimeExecutable and allows you to open launch.json. In my launch.json case:
"runtimeExecutable": "${workspaceFolder}/functions/node_modules/.bin/nodemon"
I tried the restarts and answers here originally but no luck, so I manually explored into my functions/node_modules folder and realized .bin was missing. I used my terminal to path into functions like so:
cd functions
Terminal directory path example: ( ~/OneDrive/Desktop/{project dir covered}/{project dir covered}/functions )
Then I did an npm install using npm i, and now everything is back to normal. Keep in mind, most of these answers are general fixes. If your situtation is more specific, be sure to break it down from the start. Hope this might help others!