MODULE_NOT_FOUND when running with npx

[FelixZY]

I have a github action which executes semantic-release with npx. The project does not have a package.json.

Everything seems to work fine, before failing with error Cannot find module 'conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits'

.releaserc.yml

branches:
  - main
  - name: beta
    prerelease: beta
debug: true
plugins:
  - "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
  - path: "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
    preset: conventionalcommits
  - "@semantic-release/github"

workflow.yml

on:
  workflow_dispatch:

jobs:
  release:
    name: Release
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    env:
      GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
      NODE_VERSION: "20.x"

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Set up Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
        with:
          node-version: ${{ env.NODE_VERSION }}

      - name: Run `semantic-release`
        run: |
          npx --yes semantic-release --dry-run

logs

Run npx --yes semantic-release  --dry-run
  npx --yes semantic-release  --dry-run
  shell: /usr/bin/bash -e {0}
  env:
    NODE_VERSION: 20.x
    GH_TOKEN: ***
npm WARN deprecated read-pkg-up@11.0.0: Renamed to read-package-up
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Running semantic-release version 22.0.8
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "verifyConditions" from "@semantic-release/github"
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "analyzeCommits" from "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "generateNotes" from "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "publish" from "@semantic-release/github"
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "addChannel" from "@semantic-release/github"
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "success" from "@semantic-release/github"
[12:48:09 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "fail" from "@semantic-release/github"
[...]
[12:48:12 AM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Completed step "analyzeCommits" of plugin "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
[12:48:12 AM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  There is no previous release, the next release version is 1.0.0-stage.1
[12:48:12 AM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Start step "generateNotes" of plugin "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
[12:48:12 AM] [semantic-release] › ✘  Failed step "generateNotes" of plugin "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
[12:48:12 AM] [semantic-release] › ✘  An error occurred while running semantic-release: Error: Cannot find module 'conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits'
    at importFrom (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/import-from-esm/index.js:100:17)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async default (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/@semantic-release/release-notes-generator/lib/load-changelog-config.js:27:63)
    at async generateNotes (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/@semantic-release/release-notes-generator/index.js:34:38)
    at async validator (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/normalize.js:36:24)
    at async file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/pipeline.js:38:36
    at async file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/pipeline.js:32:5
    at async pluginsConfigAccumulator.<computed> [as generateNotes] (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/index.js:87:11)
    at async run (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/index.js:197:23)
    at async Module.default (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/index.js:275:22) {
  code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
  pluginName: '@semantic-release/release-notes-generator'
}
Error: Cannot find module 'conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits'
    at importFrom (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/import-from-esm/index.js:100:17)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async default (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/@semantic-release/release-notes-generator/lib/load-changelog-config.js:27:63)
    at async generateNotes (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/@semantic-release/release-notes-generator/index.js:34:38)
    at async validator (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/normalize.js:36:24)
    at async file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/pipeline.js:38:36
    at async file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/pipeline.js:32:5
    at async pluginsConfigAccumulator.<computed> [as generateNotes] (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/index.js:87:11)
    at async run (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/index.js:197:23)
    at async Module.default (file:///home/runner/.npm/_npx/cdf31b77322f1d44/node_modules/semantic-release/index.js:275:22) {
  code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
  pluginName: '@semantic-release/release-notes-generator'
}
Error: Process completed with exit code 1.

[travi]

The preset you've chosen to use is not a dependency of semantic-release, so you need to install it in addition to semantic-release. You can still do this directly in your workflow without a package.json

[JMLX42]

@travi I have conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits installed and I still have the problem.

[4:05:29 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Running semantic-release version 21.0.2
(node:387) ExperimentalWarning: Importing JSON modules is an experimental feature and might change at any time
(Use `node --trace-warnings ...` to show where the warning was created)
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "verifyConditions" from "@semantic-release/changelog"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "verifyConditions" from "@semantic-release/git"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "verifyConditions" from "@semantic-release/gitlab"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "analyzeCommits" from "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "generateNotes" from "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "prepare" from "@semantic-release/changelog"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "prepare" from "@semantic-release/git"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "publish" from "@semantic-release/gitlab"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "success" from "@semantic-release/gitlab"
[4:05:30 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Loaded plugin "fail" from "@semantic-release/gitlab"
[4:05:31 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Run automated release from branch main on repository https://gitlab-ci-token:[secure]@git.aerys.in/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker.git
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Allowed to push to the Git repository
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Start step "verifyConditions" of plugin "@semantic-release/changelog"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Completed step "verifyConditions" of plugin "@semantic-release/changelog"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Start step "verifyConditions" of plugin "@semantic-release/git"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Completed step "verifyConditions" of plugin "@semantic-release/git"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Start step "verifyConditions" of plugin "@semantic-release/gitlab"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/gitlab] › ℹ  Verify GitLab authentication (https://git.aerys.in/api/v4)
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Completed step "verifyConditions" of plugin "@semantic-release/gitlab"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Found git tag v1.3.1 associated with version 1.3.1 on branch main
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Found 3 commits since last release
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Start step "analyzeCommits" of plugin "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  Analyzing commit: ci: temporary inhibit the semantic-release before_script install
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  The commit should not trigger a release
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  Analyzing commit: chore(deps): update node.js to v20
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  The release type for the commit is patch
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  Analyzing commit: ci: use the conventionalcommits for the release notes
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  The commit should not trigger a release
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer] › ℹ  Analysis of 3 commits complete: patch release
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✔  Completed step "analyzeCommits" of plugin "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  The next release version is 1.3.2
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ℹ  Start step "generateNotes" of plugin "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✘  Failed step "generateNotes" of plugin "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
[4:05:32 PM] [semantic-release] › ✘  An error occurred while running semantic-release: Error: Cannot find module 'conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits'
Require stack:
- /builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/noop.js
    at Module._resolveFilename (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1134:15)
    at Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:975:27)
    at Module.require (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1225:19)
    at require (node:internal/modules/helpers:177:18)
    at module.exports (/builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/.npm/lib/node_modules/semantic-release/node_modules/import-from/index.js:5:100)
    at default (file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/.npm/lib/node_modules/semantic-release/node_modules/@semantic-release/release-notes-generator/lib/load-changelog-config.js:28:67)
    at generateNotes (file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/.npm/lib/node_modules/semantic-release/node_modules/@semantic-release/release-notes-generator/index.js:34:44)
    at validator (file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/.npm/lib/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/normalize.js:36:30)
    at file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/.npm/lib/node_modules/semantic-release/lib/plugins/pipeline.js:38:42
    at next (file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/.npm/lib/node_modules/semantic-release/node_modules/p-reduce/index.js:16:10) {
  code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
  requireStack: [
    '/builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/noop.js'
  ],
  pluginName: '@semantic-release/release-notes-generator'
}
Error: Cannot find module 'conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits'
Require stack:
- /builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/noop.js
�[90m    at Module._resolveFilename (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1134:15)�[39m
�[90m    at Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:975:27)�[39m
�[90m    at Module.require (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1225:19)�[39m
�[90m    at require (node:internal/modules/helpers:177:18)�[39m
    at module.exports �[90m(/builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/�[39m.npm/lib/node_modules/�[4msemantic-release�[24m/node_modules/�[4mimport-from�[24m/index.js:5:100�[90m)�[39m
    at default �[90m(file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/�[39m.npm/lib/node_modules/�[4msemantic-release�[24m/node_modules/�[4m@semantic-release�[24m/release-notes-generator/lib/load-changelog-config.js:28:67�[90m)�[39m
    at generateNotes �[90m(file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/�[39m.npm/lib/node_modules/�[4msemantic-release�[24m/node_modules/�[4m@semantic-release�[24m/release-notes-generator/index.js:34:44�[90m)�[39m
    at validator �[90m(file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/�[39m.npm/lib/node_modules/�[4msemantic-release�[24m/lib/plugins/normalize.js:36:30�[90m)�[39m
    at �[90mfile:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/�[39m.npm/lib/node_modules/�[4msemantic-release�[24m/lib/plugins/pipeline.js:38:42
    at next �[90m(file:///builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/�[39m.npm/lib/node_modules/�[4msemantic-release�[24m/node_modules/�[4mp-reduce�[24m/index.js:16:10�[90m)�[39m {
  code: �[32m'MODULE_NOT_FOUND'�[39m,
  requireStack: [
    �[32m'/builds/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/semantic-release-docker/noop.js'�[39m
  ],
  pluginName: �[32m'@semantic-release/release-notes-generator'�[39m
}

I am not even using npx. Just a global install:

FROM registry.aerys.in/aerys/infrastructure/vendor/rust-docker/x86_64-unknown-linux-musl:1.74.0-0 as rust

FROM node:20.11.1

COPY --from=rust /opt/rust /opt/rust

ENV PATH="$PATH:/opt/rust/cargo/bin"
ENV RUSTUP_HOME=/opt/rust/rustup

# To see why we need to execute `semantic-release-cargo` through `@semantic-release/exec`
# see https://git.aerys.in/aerys/smartshape/smartshape-cli/-/issues/569#note_437864.
# To see why we can't execute the Node.js plugin directly and install the binary,
# see https://git.aerys.in/aerys/test/semantic-release-cargo-test/-/issues/2#note_437918.
#
# renovate: datasource=crate depName=semantic-release-cargo
RUN cargo install semantic-release-cargo@2.2.87

RUN npm install --global \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=semantic-release
    semantic-release@23.0.2 \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=@semantic-release/gitlab
    @semantic-release/gitlab@13.0.3 \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=@semantic-release/exec
    @semantic-release/exec@6.0.3 \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=@semantic-release/commit-analyzer
    @semantic-release/commit-analyzer@11.1.0 \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=@semantic-release/changelog
    @semantic-release/changelog@6.0.3 \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=@semantic-release/git
    @semantic-release/git@10.0.1 \
    # renovate: datasource=npm depName=conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits
    conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits@7.0.2

# Pin the version of `yarn` to avoid mismatching versions in different projects.
RUN corepack prepare yarn@3.5.0 && \
    yarn set version 3.5.0

[travi]

Running semantic-release version 21.0.2

you are using an old version of semantic-release with the latest version of the conventional-changelog-conventionalcommmits preset. there is a known incompatibility with the latest presets that was fixed in v22 of semantic-release. please upgrade to the latest semantic-release to see if that improves your situation.

[JMLX42]

That is correct. Somehow I got two versions of release-notes-generator installed. And I ran the wrong/old one.

This is indeed fixed when using the latest version of all packages.