ERROR Pre-transform error: spawn EBADF
Hi,
I'm trying to update Nuxt on my project, but without success.
I was on version 3.14. I tried upgrading to 3.15, 16, or the latest .17, and I'm still having an EBADF spawn issue.
I can't find anything about it. I've tried deleting node modules and .nuxt files, and reinstalling everything properly, but it doesn't change anything.
2 Replies
Hi @Cesar. I'm kapa.ai, your friendly support bot. I will try to answer your question by searching through the knowledge base. :wave:
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The "spawn EBADF" error when running or upgrading Nuxt 3 projects on macOS is a known issue, especially when using Vite as the builder. This error is not unique to a specific Nuxt version (3.14, 3.15, 3.16, or 3.17) and has been reported by multiple users. The root cause is typically related to the interaction between Nuxt, Vite, and the esbuild dependency, particularly on macOS systems.
Key Findings from the Knowledge Sources
- Project-Specific Issue: The error is not caused by your system or Node.js installation, but rather by the specific combination of Nuxt, Vite, and esbuild in your project configuration. Standalone esbuild works fine, confirming the problem is at the project level, not the system level [Project-Level Issue].
- esbuild Version Override: Many users have found that forcing the esbuild version to
0.15.15 in your package.json (using the overrides field) can resolve the EBADF error and allow the project to run. However, this may still result in warnings about esbuild.context not being a function, indicating a lingering compatibility issue [esbuild Override].
- Vite Plugin Conflicts: The error is often triggered by Vite plugins (such as vite:client-inject or vite-plugin-checker) that attempt to spawn child processes, which can fail on macOS in certain configurations. Some workarounds involve disabling or removing problematic plugins, or using custom plugins to block process spawning during development [Plugin Conflicts].
- Cleaning and Reinstalling: While deleting node_modules, .nuxt, and reinstalling dependencies is a good troubleshooting step, it does not resolve this specific issue if the underlying esbuild/Vite/Nuxt combination is incompatible [Diagnostic Steps].
What You Can Try
1. Override esbuild Version
In your package.json, add:
Then run:
This workaround has allowed projects to start, though some warnings may persist [esbuild Override].
2. Check for Vite Plugin Conflicts
Review your vite.config.ts and package.json for any custom or third-party Vite plugins. Try disabling them to see if the error resolves [Plugin Conflicts].
3. Test in a Clean Project
Create a new Nuxt 3 project and see if the error occurs. If not, the issue is likely with your project's configuration or dependencies [Diagnostic Steps].
4. Monitor for Upstream Fixes
This issue is known and may be addressed in future releases of Nuxt, Vite, or esbuild. Keep your dependencies up to date and check the Nuxt GitHub issues for updates.
Summary
The "spawn EBADF" error is a project-level compatibility issue between Nuxt, Vite, and esbuild on macOS. Overriding the esbuild version to 0.15.15 is the most reliable workaround found so far, but it may not eliminate all warnings. There is no permanent fix in the knowledge sources, but the problem is well-documented and under investigation by the Nuxt team [Project-Level Issue].
If you need more detailed troubleshooting steps, let me know!
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