Node.js (npm) refuses to find python even after %PYTHON% has been set

Question

So I am trying to get the Node.js to work. Of course, it's not as easy as advertised :)

I happen to have two python versions on my computer, but Node.js seems to only work with the older one, 2.7. Upon error, it also encourages me to set the path into PYTHON environment variable with this error:

Error: Can't find Python executable "python2.7", you can set the PYTHON env variable.

Ok then, I configured the variable as desired:

C:\Users\Jakub>set PYTHON=C:\MYSELF\Programs\Python2.7\python.exe

C:\Users\Jakub>echo %PYTHON%
C:\MYSELF\Programs\Python2.7\python.exe

You can see that I used echo to check whether the variable was really set. Unfortunatelly, that npm thing can't read it and the error appears again. Here's the full log right after I set the %PYTHON% variable:

C:\Users\Jakub>npm install minecraft-protocol
\


> [email protected] install C:\Users\Jakub\node_modules\minecraft-protocol\node_modules\ursa
> node-gyp rebuild

|
C:\Users\Jakub\node_modules\minecraft-protocol\node_modules\ursa>if not defined npm_config_node_gyp (node "C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin\node-gyp-bin\\..\..\no
de_modules\node-gyp\bin\node-gyp.js" rebuild )  else (rebuild)
gyp ERR! configure error
gyp ERR! stack Error: Can't find Python executable "python2.7", you can set the PYTHON env variable.
gyp ERR! stack     at failNoPython (C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\node-gyp\lib\configure.js:103:14)
gyp ERR! stack     at C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\node-gyp\lib\configure.js:64:11
gyp ERR! stack     at FSReqWrap.oncomplete (evalmachine.<anonymous>:95:15)

Changes to environment variables using "set" only last for the duration of the cmd window. — Rob Foley
– Rob Foley, Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 16:53
I didn't close the window - the npm install ... was issued right after configuring the variable, in the same window. — Tomáš Zato
– Tomáš Zato, Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 16:55
I had a similar issue on Windows 10. I ended up uninstalling Node, Python, Electron, and NPM, restarting my computer, reinstalling Node, Python, Electron, and NPM, then restarting my computer again before it finally worked. gyp + windows = joke — Shawn Whinnery
– Shawn Whinnery, Commented Nov 16, 2017 at 0:33

Tomáš Zato · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-09 21:15:31Z

59

I figured out the most stable solution is to set python npm internal value to actual path:

npm config set python C:\Programs\Python2.7\python2.7.exe

This skips all environment variable and %PATH% crap and just starts the python wherever it's installed.

answered Oct 9, 2015 at 21:15

Tomáš Zato

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4 Comments

pcormier Over a year ago

Setting the environment variables didn't work for me either. This answer did! Thanks

Fintan Kearney Over a year ago

Also make sure that you have the correct version installed!

nerdoza Over a year ago

I had to specifically add both python and PYTHON to my config before gyp would run.

O-9 Over a year ago

"npm ERR! python is not a valid npm option"

iaarnio · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-01 11:09:22Z

7

TL;DR Make a copy or alias of your python.exe with name python2.7.exe

My python 2.7 was installed as

D:\app\Python27\python.exe

I always got this error no matter how I set (and verified) PYTHON env variable:

gyp ERR! stack Error: Can't find Python executable "python2.7", you can set the PYTHON env variable.
gyp ERR! stack     at failNoPython (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\node-gyp\lib\configure.js:103:14)

The reason for this was that in node-gyp's configure.js the python executable was resolved like:

var python = gyp.opts.python || process.env.PYTHON || 'python'

And it turned out that gyp.opts.python had value 'python2.7' thus overriding process.env.PYTHON.

I resolved this by creating an alias for python.exe executable with name node-gyp was looking for:

D:\app\Python27>mklink python2.7.exe python.exe

You need admin rights for this operation.

edited Sep 1, 2015 at 11:09

answered Sep 1, 2015 at 11:01

iaarnio

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2 Comments

DoubleU23 Over a year ago

had the same approach but that didn't solve the problem for me.

iaarnio Over a year ago

@DoubleU23, I recommend using npm config as Tomáš Zato suggested. That seems like the official way. My suggestion is more a workaround.

KlwntSingh · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-06 17:28:26Z

2

Reopen your terminal after you set your environment variable in case of windows but in case of linux no need to restart terminal.

answered Jul 6, 2015 at 17:28

KlwntSingh

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1 Comment

Tomáš Zato Over a year ago

Is this meant to be an answer or a comment? Anyway, why do I need to restart terminal (didn't work)?

LAXIT KUMAR · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-20 13:33:44Z

1

This worked for me:

npm config set python C:\Users\<username>\.windows-build-tools\python27\python.exe

Set the path to python executable accordingly. Hope this help :-)

answered Jan 20, 2019 at 13:33

LAXIT KUMAR

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1 Comment

CodeChanger Over a year ago

working for me also... Thanks for the detail info (y)

Anubhav Gupta · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-02 10:03:24Z

1

On Windows goto directory C:\Users\<<your username>>\.windows-build-tools\python27 and copy and paste the python.exe as python.2.7.exe in the same directory.

answered Dec 2, 2019 at 10:03

Anubhav Gupta

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1 Comment

George Tiganila Over a year ago

THIS IS THE SOLUTION!!! a small error, just modify to python2.7.exe, no extra .

Pankaj Toshniwal · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-26 13:06:50Z

1

I tried everything but none worked for me, then I installed python using this Link at this location C:\Python27\python.exe

answered Dec 26, 2022 at 13:06

Pankaj Toshniwal

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Comments

techloris_109 · Accepted Answer · 2023-08-30 18:58:02Z

0

It was admin vs local user issue for me !

Please see my steps in different thread, here

answered Aug 30, 2023 at 18:58

techloris_109

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