NODE_ENV is not recognised as an internal or external command

Question

I am developing in node.js and wanted to take into account both production and development environment. I found out that setting NODE_ENV while running the node.js server does the job. However when I try to set it in package.json script it gives me the error:

NODE_ENV is not recognised as an internal or external command

Below is my package.json

{
  "name": "NODEAPT",
  "version": "0.0.0",
  "private": true,
  "scripts": {
    "start": "NODE_ENV=development node ./bin/server",
    "qa2": "NODE_ENV=qa2  node ./bin/server",
    "prod": "NODE_ENV=production node ./bin/server"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "body-parser": "~1.15.1",
    "cookie-parser": "~1.4.3",
    "debug": "~2.2.0",
    "express": "~4.13.4",
    "fs": "0.0.1-security",
    "jade": "~1.11.0",
    "morgan": "~1.7.0",
    "oracledb": "^1.11.0",
    "path": "^0.12.7",
    "serve-favicon": "~2.3.0"
  }
}

I run my node server as: npm run qa2 for example.

I don't know what I am doing wrong. Any help is appreciated

Answer 1

Since you are using windows operating system., the command varies from the unix system command that you are using.

In windows you have to modify you script as.

"scripts": {
    "start": " SET NODE_ENV=development &  node ./bin/server",
    "qa2": "SET NODE_ENV=qa2 & node ./bin/server",
    "prod": "SET NODE_ENV=production & node ./bin/server"
  },

Use SET and then an & after that.

However using cross-env npm package for cross platform stability is recommeded.

Install it like npm install -S cross-env

"scripts": {
    "start": " cross-env NODE_ENV=development &  node ./bin/server",
    "qa2": "cross-env NODE_ENV=qa2 & node ./bin/server",
    "prod": "cross-env NODE_ENV=production & node ./bin/server"
  },