Resolving the syntax error near unexpected token in Node.js and PM2

Learn how to troubleshoot the `syntax error near unexpected token '../lib/cli.js'` in Node.js running on Amazon EC2. Discover the steps that led to a successful resolution! --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71098529/ asked by the user 'thugzook' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9285695/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71099412/ provided by the user 'thugzook' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9285695/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: syntax error near unexpected token `'../lib/cli.js'' Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Understanding and Resolving the syntax error near unexpected token in Node.js When working with Node.js projects, you may occasionally encounter errors that can be frustrating to debug, like the syntax error near unexpected token related to your script. This particular error often arises while running scripts on environments like Amazon EC2 where config nuances come into play. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why this error occurs and how you can resolve it effectively. The Situation: What Went Wrong? In this specific scenario, a user encountered the following issue: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] The user was attempting to run a Node.js script hosted on an Amazon EC2 instance using the command from a script defined as: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Environment Details Node Version: 17.5.0 NPM Version: 8.4.1 PM2 Version: 5.1.2 Framework: Next.js v11.1.3 Hosting: Amazon EC2 (default Linux AMI) The Solution: A Step-By-Step Approach Based on user experience, we found out that tackling such issues might require a few troubleshooting steps. Here’s a breakdown of what to do next when you encounter a similar problem: 1. Check Your Interpreter Settings One common culprit of the syntax error near unexpected token message is an incorrect interpreter flag. The user had appended the --interpreter bash flag while running the PM2 script based on an outdated Stack Overflow solution. To solve the issue: Remove the unnecessary interpreter flag from your PM2 command. This should help eliminate path-related issues that lead to syntax errors. 2. Refresh Your Environment Sometimes, the best approach is to start fresh. In this case, completely reinstalling your environment resolved the error. Consider these steps: Delete Node and NPM: Remove your current Node.js and NPM installation. Reinstall NVM: If using Node Version Manager (NVM), reinstall it to reset any configurations or settings. Install Node Again: Use NVM to install a stable version of Node.js that fits your application requirements. 3. Verify Permissions and Paths After reinstalling everything, ensure that the shebang line in your script corresponds correctly with the new Node.js installation path: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Make sure that the path specified in the script matches the actual installation path of your Node.js. 4. Check for Legacy Code and Flags If issues persist, consider revisiting legacy flags or any hand-me-down code snippets found online. Sometimes, these can inadvertently introduce complications. It’s always a good idea to write down only what is necessary and ensure it aligns with the latest guidelines and best practices. 5. Test Again Finally, after implementing the above changes, run your script again through PM2 or directly via Node.js. This should ideally solve the syntax error near unexpected token problem. Conclusion Dealing with syntax errors can be arduous, but by understanding the underlying issues and applying the aforementioned solutions, you can tackle them effectively. Whether it's removing outdated flags, refreshing your environment, or simply ensuring the correct paths are set, maintaining clean and current code can prevent these errors from cropping up again in the future. Don’t hesitate to embrace the “nuke everything and start from scratch” philosophy if needed! Your Node.js environment will be much better for it. For any further queries or tips regarding Node.js environments, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!