`npm install` fails on node-gyp rebuild with `gyp: No Xcode or CLT version detected!`

Question

Every time I try npm install. I get the following error. How do I fix it?

gyp: No Xcode or CLT version detected!

I am on node -v → v8.8.0 & npm -v → v6.11.3

I tried to run it on VSCode terminal and iTerm, but both ended up getting the same error. (both are updated to the latest version). The only new thing I did is updating my macOS to the latest version (Catalina 10.15.3 today).

$ npm install          Fri Mar  6 17:22:40 2020

> [email protected] install /Users/synapse/Documents/synapsefi-dev-ui/node_modules/watchpack/node_modules/fsevents
> node-gyp rebuild

No receipt for 'com.apple.pkg.CLTools_Executables' found at '/'.

No receipt for 'com.apple.pkg.DeveloperToolsCLILeo' found at '/'.

No receipt for 'com.apple.pkg.DeveloperToolsCLI' found at '/'.

gyp: No Xcode or CLT version detected!
gyp ERR! configure error
gyp ERR! stack Error: `gyp` failed with exit code: 1
gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.onCpExit (/Users/synapse/.nvm/versions/node/v8.8.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/configure.js:344:16)
gyp ERR! stack     at emitTwo (events.js:125:13)
gyp ERR! stack     at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:213:7)
gyp ERR! stack     at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:200:12)
gyp ERR! System Darwin 19.3.0
gyp ERR! command "/Users/synapse/.nvm/versions/node/v8.8.0/bin/node" "/Users/synapse/.nvm/versions/node/v8.8.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "rebuild"
gyp ERR! cwd /Users/synapse/Documents/synapsefi-dev-ui/node_modules/watchpack/node_modules/fsevents
gyp ERR! node -v v8.8.0
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v5.0.3
gyp ERR! not ok
npm WARN [email protected] No repository field.
npm WARN The package country-data is included as both a dev and production dependency.
npm WARN The package react-dropzone is included as both a dev and production dependency.
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] (node_modules/watchpack/node_modules/fsevents):
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] install: `node-gyp rebuild`
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Exit status 1

Answer 1

Even though you have them installed (my case), but by upgrading to Catalina (10.15.*) you can get this error (my case :) ).

Therefore, simply installing wouldn't help as you will get an error that they are already installed.

Therefore you need to hopefully just (I) reset the tool or in worse case (II) uninstall and install (requires large redownload) it again (this is based on the @Dane_duPlessis's answer).

# just for а preview (not necessary)
xcode-select --print-path
# in my case it printed `/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools`

# could be useful if the path is making a problem
sudo xcode-select --switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

# only for the (I) resetting case
sudo xcode-select --reset

# only for the (II) uninstalling case - the next line deletes folder returned by the `xcode-select --print-path` command
sudo rm -rf $(xcode-select --print-path)


# only for the (II) uninstalling case - install tools (again) if you don't get a default installation prompt
xcode-select --install

NOTE:

• You do not need to do it per project, but only once
• There was also discussion that you have to do it on every OSX update, in my case, later updating the OSX system didn't trigger this issue again

Credits to: gyp: No Xcode or CLT version detected macOS Catalina

Answer 2

This worked for me with macOS Catalina Version 10.15.5:

$ xcode-select --print-path
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
$ sudo xcode-select --switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
...
$ sudo xcode-select --reset
...

The xcode cli tools should now be accessible. No need to re-install anything.

Answer 3

I guess, you may have tried multiple solutions so far but if none of those solutions have worked for you yet, don't worry - I got you. :)

Non-working Solutions:

1. xcode-select --install didn't work for me (macOS Catalina 10.15.7) as it shows up a Software Update dialog box which says Can't install the software because it is currently not available from the Software Update Server.
2. I also downloaded and install Xcode Command Line Tools from Apple's download website (https://developer.apple.com/download/more/?=for%20Xcode) but the problem re-appeared somehow or may be it didn't solve it in first place and I somehow didn't notice.
3. sudo xcode-select --reset also didn't do the trick for me.
4. Someone suggested to install whole XCode. No, thank you.

Working Solution:

Here is what worked for me i.e. reinstall Xcode Command Line Tools using Software Update manually.

1. Check if Command Line Tools Update is mentioned in your list of softwares to be updated by using following command: softwareupdate -l
2. If Command Line Tools Update is not mentioned in that list, then manually make it part of the list using following command which will create a temporary file: sudo touch /tmp/.com.apple.dt.CommandLineTools.installondemand.in-progress
3. Verify that the list now has the Command Line Tools mentioned by running softwareupdate -l again.
4. Now, press Cmd+Space to initiate Mac's Spotlight Search. Search for Software Update. Start the Software Update.
5. That will show you following kind of dialog for installing the Command Line Tools. Install away the update and be merry. :)
6. Remove the temporary file created in Step 2: sudo rm /tmp/.com.apple.dt.CommandLineTools.installondemand.in-progress.