Npx tailwindcss results in "Unexpected Token ." This error is unhelpful.

[severian1778]

As described in title.

This is on up to date npm and tailwind build.

Its kind of hard to diagnose.

[adamwathan]

Hey! Gonna need a lot more information here sorry. Can you provide exact steps to reproduce as well as provide the complete error?

Just a few examples of things I don't know from this:

• Did you install Tailwind before running npx, or just trying to run npx without installing Tailwind locally?
• What operating system are you using?
• What version of node?
• What command specifically did you actually run? npx tailwindcss init? npx tailwindcss -o output.css?

So please provide every detail, we have issue templates for a reason 🙂

[Bolaji5821]

npx postcss

[Inori-dokusha]

• install tailwind after run npx init
• i'm install tailwind in android with termux
• node version 21.6.2
• npx tailwindcss -i ./input.css -o ./output.css --watch

[Keyskeeper]

Hello,
I have a similar issue on Ubuntu 20.04

• Node v12.22.12
• npm 6.14.16

Running npx tailwindcss -o output.css fails with a message :
Unexpected token '.'

I tried to update or reinstall nodejs and tailwindcss but I still have the same issue

[Thosine-01]

I'm also having similar error on ubuntu 20.04

npm version 8.5.1

Running npx tailwindcss init gives this error 👍 "/home/lawal/Desktop/Tailwind/lesson1/node_modules/yaml/dist/compose/composer.js:33
if (prelude[i + 1]?.[0] !== '#')"

[Arslanamin404]

Same error if (prelude[i + 1]?.[0] !== '#')"

[Asikul001]

Same problem comes in ubuntu 20.04.
plz anyone solve this problem.

[Charlygnusa]

Hello,
Me too have a similar issue on Ubuntu 18.04

Node v14.15.0
npm 6.14.8
Running "npx tailwindcss init -p" in new project fails with a message :
Unexpected token '.'

[COValhalla]

Same issue here. Following either the TailwindCSS CLI or PostCSS instructions on the website. I've reverted back to 3.1.4 and everything is working as expected.

Running npx tailwindcss init

/home/mojo/TOP/weather-app/node_modules/yaml/dist/compose/composer.js:33
if (prelude[i + 1]?.[0] !== '#')
^

SyntaxError: Unexpected token '.'
at wrapSafe (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:915:16)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:963:27)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1027:10)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:863:32)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:708:14)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:887:19)
at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:74:18)
at Object. (/home/mojo/TOP/weather-app/node_modules/yaml/dist/index.js:3:16)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:999:30)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1027:10)

[Keyskeeper]

works for me too with 3.1.4 fall back.

[Shaco74]

I had the exact same error message running node 16.18.0, on Windows 11.
I managed to fix the issue by downgrading to node 16.13.2 using nvm.

PS C:\Users\Kacpe\Documents\GitHub\SWE\SWE-MehrMarkt\Frontend> nvm use 16.13.2
Now using node v16.13.2 (64-bit)
PS C:\Users\Kacpe\Documents\GitHub\SWE\SWE-MehrMarkt\Frontend> npx tailwindcss init -p

Created Tailwind CSS config file: tailwind.config.js
Created PostCSS config file: postcss.config.js

[RoiTal88]

I had this issue too.
now the issue is when using npx tailwindcss. npx will take the latest tailwind which working on higher node version.
so you don't need to upgrade/downgrade node version just use the proper tailwind version.
e.g npx tailwindcss@3.1.8

and i will work magicly!

[tskxz]

i tried with that
i got the same error

npx tailwindcss@3.1.8 init -p
/home/tsk/Desktop/eco-escola/node_modules/yaml/dist/compose/composer.js:33
                if (prelude[i + 1]?.[0] !== '#')
                                   ^

SyntaxError: Unexpected token '.'
    at wrapSafe (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:915:16)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:963:27)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1027:10)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:863:32)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:708:14)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:887:19)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:74:18)
    at Object.<anonymous> (/home/tsk/Desktop/eco-escola/node_modules/yaml/dist/index.js:3:16)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:999:30)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1027:10)

[prajwalppramod]

this worked. thanks

[juniormiranda89]

this worked. thank you very much

[Arivald8]

This worked for me too on Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS, npm/npx@8.5.1.

Thank you.

[The-Lone-Druid]

This one saved the day.

[Thosine-01]

Good pm tanjil. To debug this code all you need to do is to install the latest node version.

…

On Mon, Jun 26, 2023, 1:13 PM Tanjil ***@***.***> wrote: i tried with that i got the same error npx ***@***.*** init -p /home/tsk/Desktop/eco-escola/node_modules/yaml/dist/compose/composer.js:33 if (prelude[i + 1]?.[0] !== '#') ^ SyntaxError: Unexpected token '.' at wrapSafe (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:915:16) at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:963:27) at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1027:10) at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:863:32) at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:708:14) at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:887:19) at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:74:18) at Object.<anonymous> (/home/tsk/Desktop/eco-escola/node_modules/yaml/dist/index.js:3:16) at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:999:30) at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1027:10) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#8807 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASSLRLAGZ2OKFSYQP43IAKDXNF4HFANCNFSM53BAHWQA> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.*** com>

[tskxz]

It worked, thanks

[codemewel]

Hello, I got the same error on my Ubuntu 22.04 when running npx tailwondcss init. I appreciate any help

[codemewel]

I finally fixed my issue. I just did purge the node and npm via terminal and install the node in snap store! It works perfectly fine now!

[Asikul001]

"unexpected token ."- this problem comes in ubuntu with tailwind version 3.4.1 so downgrade the tailwind version to 3.1.8 and then run npx tailwindcss init. i think this will work in ubuntu

[RanitManik]

Yes, this one worked for me too (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS).

[Jetsadakorn-s]

Delete the node_modules directory and the package-lock.json file (or yarn.lock if you're using Yarn) from your project's root directory. Then, reinstall the dependencies by running npm install or yarn install. See if the version of both node and tailwind are supported.

[RamkumarMrj]

When attempting to initialize Tailwindcss, I encountered an issue.

PS C:\> npx tailwindcss -o output.css
Unexpected token .
(node:22988) ExperimentalWarning: The fs.promises API is experimental

PS C:\> npx tailwindcss init
Unexpected token .
(node:25848) ExperimentalWarning: The fs.promises API is experimental

I'm currently using a specific project version. I would like to know if this version supports the latest Tailwindcss or not.

PS C:\> node -v
v10.13.0

PS C:\> npm -v
6.4.1

PS C:\> ng v 
Angular CLI: 11.1.4

[Gelloiss]

Hey!
Use actual node version, and all will be cool :)
you forgot to change the node version to 18))

[JoAzar]

El problema que todos tienen es que no instalaron node como señaló Gelloiss, acá hay una indicación de cómo hacerlo en freeCode:

Una vez instalado node deben actualizarlo con nvm install 14 (14 o la versión que quieran)

The problem everyone has is that they didn't install node as Gelloiss pointed out, here is an indication of how to do it in freeCode:

Once node is installed, you must update it with nvm install 14 (14 or the version you want)

https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/node-version-manager-nvm-install-guide/)

[xtx29]

Solved this by installing the latest version of node. Here's how to upgrade node version as mentioned here. It worked on my Ubuntu 22.04

To check your Ubuntu version: cat /etc/lsb-release

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/npm /usr/local/share/man/man1/node* ~/.npm
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/node*
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/node*
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/include/node*

sudo apt-get purge nodejs npm
sudo apt autoremove

Download the latest tar.xz NodeJS file from https://nodejs.org/en/download/

tar -xf node-v#.#.#-linux-x64.tar.xz
sudo mv node-v#.#.#-linux-x64/bin/* /usr/local/bin/
sudo mv node-v#.#.#-linux-x64/lib/node_modules/ /usr/local/lib/

Where #.#.# is the version you downloaded.

Verify installation using

node -v
npm -v

[TulossSolutions]

Hello,

I was able to fix the error by upgrading NodeJS to the latest stable version.

sudo npm install -g n

sudo n stable

then
npx tailwindcss -i ./path/style.css -o ./path/output.css --watch

[yigitortu]

Hello
i just download new npm version and it's worked
here is my npm versions