Docker /bin/bash: nodemon: command not found - node.js

Question

I am trying to mount my working node code from my host into a docker container and run it using nodemon using docker-compose.
But container doesn't seems to be able to find nodemon.
Note: My host machine does not has node or npm installed on it.
Here are the files in the root folder of my project (test). (This is only a rough draft)
Dockerfile
FROM surenderthakran/nodejs:v4
ADD . /test
WORKDIR /test
RUN make install
CMD make run
Makefile
SHELL:=/bin/bash
PWD:=$(shell pwd)
export PATH:= $(PWD)/node_modules/.bin:$(PWD)/bin:$(PATH)
DOCKER:=$(shell grep docker /proc/1/cgroup)
install:
#echo Running make install......
#npm config set unsafe-perm true
#npm install
run:
#echo Running make run......
# Check if we are inside docker container
ifdef DOCKER
#echo We are dockerized!! :D
#nodemon index.js
else
#nodemon index.js
endif
.PHONY: install run
docker-compose.yml
app:
build: .
command: make run
volumes:
- .:/test
environment:
NODE_ENV: dev
ports:
- "17883:17883"
- "17884:17884"
package.json
{
"name": "test",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "test",
"main": "index.js",
"dependencies": {
"express": "^4.13.3",
"nodemon": "^1.8.0"
},
"devDependencies": {},
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"keywords": [
"api",
"nodejs",
"express"
],
"author": "test",
"license": "ISC"
}
index.js
'use strict';
var express = require('express');
I build my image using docker-compose build. It finishes successfully.
But when I try to run it using docker-compose up, I get:
Creating test_app_1...
Attaching to test_app_1
app_1 | Running make run......
app_1 | We are dockerized!! :D
app_1 | /bin/bash: nodemon: command not found
app_1 | make: *** [run] Error 127
test_app_1 exited with code 2
Gracefully stopping... (press Ctrl+C again to force)
Can anyone please advice?
Note: The Dockerfile for my base image surenderthakran/nodejs:v4 can be found here: https://github.com/surenderthakran/dockerfile_nodejs/blob/master/Dockerfile

Answer 1

The issue has been resolved. The issue boiled down to me not having node_modules in the mounted volume.
Basically, while doing docker-compose build the image was build correctly with the actual code being added to the image and creating the node_modules folder by npm install in the project root. But with docker-compose up the code was being mounted in the project root and it was overriding the earlier added code including the newly created node_modules folder.
So as a solution I compromised to install nodejs on my host and do a npm install on my host. So when the code my being mounted I still got my node_modules folder in my project root because it was also getting mounted from my host.
Not a very elegant solution but since it is a development setup I am ready for the compromise. On production I would be setting up using docker build and docker run and won't be using nodemon anyways.
If anyone can suggest me a better solution I will be greatful.
Thanks!!

Answer 2

I believe you should use a preinstall script in your package.json.
So, in the script section, just add script:
"scritpts": {
"preinstall": "npm i nodemon -g",
"start": "nodemon app.js",
}
And you should good to go :)

Answer 3

Pretty late for an answer. But you could use something called as named volumes to mount your node_modules in the docker volumes space. That way it would hide your bind mount.

Answer 4

You need to set the node_modules as a mounted volume in the docker container.
e.g
docker-compose.yml
app:
build: .
command: make run
volumes:
- .:/test
- /test/node_modules
environment:
NODE_ENV: dev
ports:
- "17883:17883"
- "17884:17884"

Answer 5

I've figured out how to do this without a Dockerfile, in case that's useful to anyone...
You can run multiple commands in the docker-compose.yml command line by using sh -c.
my-server:
image: node:18-alpine
build: .
volumes:
- .:/usr/src/app
- /usr/src/app/node_modules
working_dir: /usr/src/app
ports:
- "3100:3100"
command: sh -c "npm install -g nodemon && npm install && npm run dev "
environment:
NODE_ENV: development
PORT: 3100