Solving the NODE_ENV is not Recognized Error in Node.js, React, and Next.js Projects

Summary: Learn how to fix the ‘NODE_ENV’ is not recognized error in your Node.js, React, and Next.js projects. Step-by-step solutions for different operating systems included.
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Solving the NODE_ENV is not Recognized Error in Node.js, React, and Next.js Projects

If you’ve encountered the error message ‘NODE_ENV’ is not recognized as an internal or external command while running yarn start in your Node.js, React, or Next.js project, you’re not alone. This issue is common, especially for users on Windows, but don’t worry—it’s fixable!

We’ll explore why this error occurs and how to solve it across different operating systems.

Understanding the Error

The NODE_ENV environment variable is often used to specify the environment in which a Node.js application is running (e.g., development or production). However, setting environment variables differs between Unix-based systems (Linux and macOS) and Windows.

In Unix-based systems, you might set NODE_ENV like this in your package.json:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, this doesn’t work on Windows, where the syntax for setting environment variables is different.

Solutions for Fixing the Error

For Windows Users

If you’re on Windows, you can update your package.json scripts to use the cross-env package, which ensures compatibility for setting environment variables across different platforms.

Install the cross-env package
First, install cross-env as a development dependency:

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Update package.json
Next, update the start script in your package.json:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This adjustment uses cross-env to set NODE_ENV correctly regardless of the operating system.

For Unix-based Systems (Linux and macOS)

If you’re working on a Unix-based system, you generally don’t need cross-env and can simply set environment variables directly in your package.json scripts.

Example package.json script for Unix-based systems

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Using Environmental Configuration Files

Alternatively, you can use environmental configuration files like .env along with libraries such as dotenv to define your environment variables outside of package.json.

Install dotenv

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Create a .env file
Create a .env file in your project’s root directory:

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Update your Node.js script to load .env variables
Add the following line at the beginning of your script:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Example for package.json

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Using .env files is especially beneficial if you have multiple environment variables to configure and want to keep your package.json scripts tidy.

Conclusion

The ‘NODE_ENV’ is not recognized as an internal or external command error can be swiftly addressed by using the cross-env package for cross-platform compatibility or by switching to environmental configuration files. These solutions will ensure your build scripts work seamlessly, regardless of the operating system.

By implementing these solutions, you can continue developing your Node.js, React, or Next.js projects without interruption. Happy coding!

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