docs(installation): document targeted npx dependency recovery (#5353)

This commit is contained in:
arjen authored and GitHub committed 2026-10-23 05:24:19 +08:00
1 parent bd2a84ccba
commit e83e3ceadd
1 file changed
+47
+47
View File
@@ -413,6 +413,53 @@ symbolic link is retained and reported rather than followed. Uninstall checks
REA's managed shared and Claude Code personal skill locations. See the
[CLI guide](cli.md#output-and-exit-status) for exit statuses.
### Missing dependencies in an npx installation
If REA exits with `ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND` before `doctor` can produce a report,
inspect the missing path in the error. A path under npm's `_npx/<key>/node_modules`
identifies a package-runner installation. In [#5259](https://github.com/morluto/rea/issues/5259),
the missing file was `@modelcontextprotocol/client/dist/index.mjs`. That file is
present in a clean Windows installation of REA 6.7.0; its absence alone does not
establish an incompatible dependency release or explain how the file went missing.
`npm cache verify` checks npm's downloaded content cache; it does not restore
missing files in an already extracted npx installation. Repeating the same npx
command can reuse that incomplete installation. To reinstall only the affected
entry:
1. Stop the REA processes and agent clients using that entry. In the same shell
environment as the failing command, identify the cache and its entries:
```powershell
npm.cmd config get cache
npm.cmd cache npx ls
npm.cmd cache npx info REA_CACHE_KEY
```
Replace `REA_CACHE_KEY` with the key from the failing `_npx` path. Check that
`info` reports that location and the expected `rea-agents` version. Its
`valid` label describes the cache entry metadata, not the presence of every
installed file. These subcommands require npm with `cache npx` support.
2. Remove that specific entry and rerun the affected version with registry
access. For the version reported in #5259:
```powershell
npm.cmd cache npx rm REA_CACHE_KEY
npx.cmd --yes rea-agents@6.7.0 doctor --json
```
Keep the key argument: this recovery does not require clearing all npm caches
or deleting REA configuration, skills, or Evidence. On Linux/macOS, use `npm`
and `npx` without `.cmd`. A JSON doctor report confirms startup recovered;
it can still exit nonzero for missing analysis engines or registrations.
Restart the affected agent after repairing its cache entry.
If a fresh installation still loses the file, retain the error, REA/Node/npm
versions and installation details in the issue. Check installation logs and,
on Windows, security software's protection history before attributing the cause.
Do not rename `index.cjs` to `index.mjs` or disable protection to make startup pass.
### Update the owning installation
`rea update` installs the exact resolved