How can I fix this error with installing packages using npm?

Question

npm ERR! Linux 4.15.0-36-generic
npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/node" "/usr/bin/npm" "install" "-g" "create-react-app"
npm ERR! node v8.10.0
npm ERR! npm  v3.5.2
npm ERR! path /tmp/npm-7054-19e3727d
npm ERR! code EROFS
npm ERR! errno -30
npm ERR! syscall mkdir

npm ERR! rofs EROFS: read-only file system, mkdir '/tmp/npm-7054-19e3727d'
npm ERR! rofs This is most likely not a problem with npm itself
npm ERR! rofs and is related to the file system being read-only.
npm ERR! rofs 
npm ERR! rofs Often virtualized file systems, or other file systems
npm ERR! rofs that don't support symlinks, give this error.

npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
npm ERR!     /home/path[...]/npm-debug.log

I have just started learning react and I get this following error when I try to install the create-react-app.

I use Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS.

I looked online but the solutions that I found so far were not very helpful. What I have tried already:

1. Reinstalling nodejs and npm 
2. Creating .npm-global and and adding the file to the path
3. Tried --no-bin-links

Answer 1

I assume you have installed Node.js through the apt package manager.

Unfortunately the version provided for bionic (18.04LTS) is rather old and as per @Anton's comment create-react-app requires Node.js version 14 and up.

So uninstall the version of nodejs you acquired from apt via sudo apt-get purge --auto-remove nodejs.

Then following the instructions provided on Node.js's site.

Install a more recent version of Node.js from NodeSource's Ubuntu installation scripts.

I would recommend the latest LTS version which is current version 16.

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | sudo -E bash - &&\
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Then attempt to reinstall create-react-app via npm install -g create-react-app.

Answer 2

This error appears when your hard disk file cannot be read or there is a problem among the files. Try to test in another drive and hard disk space.