Search code examples
node.jswindowswebserverlocal-web-server

Node.js local-web-server: can't find module ws (installed globally)


I want to start a simple local webserver for local development on Windows 7. For this I installed node.js and then ran:

npm install -g local-web-server

Next I went to the folder D:\[path_to_webcontent] containing the index.html, started a cmd-prompt from that folder and ran:

node ws

and get the error:

module.js:338

throw err;

^ Error: Cannot find module 'D:[path_to_webcontent]\ws'

Why can't node find the globally installed webserver? The module "local-web-server" is located at C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules.


Solution

  • Instead of node ws you just type wsin the cmd-prompt.

    From the documentation on npm (https://www.npmjs.com/package/local-web-server):

    $ npm install -g local-web-server
    $ ws
    

    When you write node ws node is looking to run a module called ws. When you want to use a globally installed package you just need to use the package's name in the cmd-prompt.