pnpm: ERR_PNPM_LINKING_FAILED when running `pnpm install` in Docker on macOS

Verify latest release

I verified that the issue exists in the latest pnpm release

pnpm version

v8.7.1

Which area(s) of pnpm are affected? (leave empty if unsure)

No response

Link to the code that reproduces this issue or a replay of the bug

No response

Reproduction steps

Create a Node-based image which includes PNPM
On macOS, bind mount a project to it and attempt to run pnpm install a couple of times inside the container

Describe the Bug

This article describes the same bug I’m experiencing: https://zenn.dev/minedia/articles/2023-08-30-pnpm#余談%3A-pnpmのエラー

Translated:

Basically, it seems like the hard links PNPM uses don’t work properly under Docker for macOS.

Expected Behavior

PNPM should work the same way in Docker containers on macOS as it does on Linux and Windows WSL2

Which Node.js version are you using?

18.17.1

Which operating systems have you used?

macOS
Windows
Linux

If your OS is a Linux based, which one it is? (Include the version if relevant)

macOS 12

About this issue

Original URL
State: open
Created 10 months ago
Reactions: 13
Comments: 22 (1 by maintainers)

Commits related to this issue

set the package-import-method=hardlink https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/issues/7024#issuecomment-1825412952 — committed to nicholeuf/udemy-sleepr by nicholeuf 3 months ago
Fixes related to pnpm (#18) * set the package-import-method=hardlink https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/issues/7024#issuecomment-1825412952 * commit recreated pnpm-lock files generated from calling `... — committed to nicholeuf/udemy-sleepr by nicholeuf 3 months ago

Most upvoted comments

I added this line in .npmrc file and it works like charm!

package-import-method=clone-or-copy

+21

dotoleeoak on Sep 29, 2023

The issue still persists in Windows. Node 18.18.0 pnpm version 8.8.0

can-acar on Oct 5, 2023

I encountered the same issue today, and cleaning node_modules or pnpm prune did not help. Switching the “file sharing implementation” (in Docker settings) from VirtioFS to gRPC FUSE has resolved it.

mtymek on Dec 5, 2023

Hey, I had the same issue and managed to get this fixed in my repo

https://github.com/panoratech/Panora

The solution was to add a line “node-linker=hoisted” to the .npmrc file

read more here: https://pnpm.io/npmrc#node-linker

Edit: the fix is not working for everyone

rflihxyz on Jan 25, 2024

Same issue on multiple windows machines (no docker involved). Tried pnpm 8.8.0 8.7.0 8.10.0 (installed via npm i -g pnpm). Always getting an ERR_PNPM_LINKING_FAILED Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, rename <some random package>

danielrotaermel on Oct 30, 2023

same error occured on windows I just updated the pnpm package and it worked . pnpm -v 8.8.0

AIABHISHEK on Oct 1, 2023

There is copy-clone bug in ZFS that may be related.

In my case, setting package-import-method=hardlink fixes the issue.

jdnavarro on Nov 24, 2023