pm2 no longer launching MM

JMac

Hey guys, frequent searcher of this forum but this issue is the first which has me completely stuck and not able to solve with lots of Googling.

MY MM prompted an update last week, which I did following the update guidance on the main builder site. Part way through the update failed, I had to go away for the bank holiday here in the UK and I’m now picking it back up.

As per the title I launch the magicmirror in terminal using pm2 start mm.sh (it’s always worked) it says it’s done but then the MM never actually launches.

when I check the pm2 logs I get an error around a directory no being empty and the node_module engine.io needing renaming.
any thoughts on sorting this? I don’t know if this is just the first hurdle or the only reason the MM is no longer launching.
I don’t have a programming background so please be gentle.
Cheers.

sdetweil

@JMac which way did u upgrade? manual, git pull, or my script?

I see that you used the manual method, do this

cd ~/MagicMirror
sudo rm -rf node_modules
npm install --omit=dev

JMac

@sdetweil Thanks for your reply, your helping of others has helped me out endlessly with this project.
I run the npm install then get an error ENOTEMPTY around /home/pi/MagicMirror/node_modules/ansi-escapes.
saying the directory isn’t empty.

sdetweil

@JMac and u erased the node_modules folder ( the rm -rf)

JMac

@sdetweil yes ran all three lines you posted.

JMac

@sdetweil Sorry to double reply, I ran the last 2 again and they worked ok, right up until the very end of the npm install when I got an ERR_SOCKET_TIMEOUT.
I’m assuming this is a wifi strength issue as the position of this mirror means it struggles at times.

sdetweil

@JMac yeh, everything is very network dependent…

I ended up installing a mesh wifi system to be able to put an access point near where my hall mirror is

JMac

@sdetweil Managed to run it a second time and everything seems happy, however, the pm2 start mm.sh still isn’t launching the MM itself.
Is there any other way to launch the mirror, or a way to check why it’s suddenly lost function (it was always happy launching and stopping the MM) ?

sdetweil

@JMac so, I would do this

pm2 stop all

cd ~/MagicMirror
npm start

does it run correctly?

you MAY have to update pm2, its just an app too…
depending on how old it was

see the pm2 --help
for the command to do its update

JMac

@sdetweil when I run npm start from the MM folder I get:

magicmirror@2.23.0 start
DISPLAY=“${DISPLAY:=:0}” ./node_modules/.bin/electron js/electron.js

sh: 1: ./node_modules/.bin/electron: not found

sdetweil

@JMac ok, do this

what device is this on? pi3?

cd ~/MagicMirror
rm -rf node_modules/electron
npm install electron@22.3.4
npm start

please advise

JMac

@sdetweil this is on a 3b+.
when running npm install I’m now back to an error for ENOTEMPTY for node_modules/ansi-escapes.
it says directory not empty.
I think it wants it renamed no_modules/.ansi-escapes-TiTd7xs1

sdetweil

@JMac ok, try this

rm -rf node_modules/electron
rm package-lock.json 
npm install electron@22.3.4
npm start

JMac

@sdetweil after running the npm install now getting a different ENOTEMPTY for nodes_modules/basic-auth.
Same issue of directory not empty

sdetweil

@JMac weird, this makes no sense

JMac

@sdetweil I’m away with work until Friday but obviously want to try and get to the bottom of this.
I’ll likely end up moving the mirror to somewhere way closer to the WiFi router.
Will this stay open until the end of the week?

Out of curiosity when launching via pm2 should it (in the little box that pops up in terminal) mention fork?

sdetweil

@JMac this will stay open til u close it…

yes, that is the linux term for starting an independent process

sdetweil

@JMac I would rename the existing mm folder
and then run install again, use my script
https://github.com/sdetweil/MagicMirror_scripts

to help move the modules and config, I’d use my backup/restore scripts
https://github.com/sdetweil/MagicMirror-backup-restore

backup before rename, restore after reinstall

JMac

may sound like a daft question but how do I rename the magicmirror folder? I’ve run your back up (hopefully).

sdetweil

@JMac in Linux the rename command is mv

cd ~
mv MagicMirror newname