webpacker: Cannot read property 'compile' of undefined when running ./bin/webpack-dev-server

ruby 2.3.4 rails 5.1.4 node 8.9.4

I get next error when trying to run ./bin/webpack-dev-server

/home/project/node_modules/webpack-dev-server/bin/webpack-dev-server.js:405
    throw e;
    ^

TypeError: Cannot read property 'compile' of undefined
    at addCompilerHooks (/home/project/node_modules/webpack-dev-server/lib/Server.js:71:16)
    at new Server (/home/project/node_modules/webpack-dev-server/lib/Server.js:81:5)
    at startDevServer (/home/project/node_modules/webpack-dev-server/bin/webpack-dev-server.js:398:14)
    at processOptions (/home/project/node_modules/webpack-dev-server/bin/webpack-dev-server.js:361:5)
    at Object.<anonymous> /home/project/node_modules/webpack-dev-server/bin/webpack-dev-server.js:504:1)
    at Module._compile (module.js:662:30)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:673:10)
    at Module.load (module.js:575:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (module.js:515:12)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:507:3)

Does anyone faced with the same error?

About this issue

Original URL
State: closed
Created 6 years ago
Reactions: 13
Comments: 29 (5 by maintainers)

Commits related to this issue

FIX: TEMPORARY downgrade webpack-dev-server to 2.11.1 https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303 — committed to dschmura/rails5template by dschmura 6 years ago
Downgrade webpack dev server yarn upgrade webpack-dev-server@^2.11.1 https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303#issuecomment-369090507 — committed to Sinetheta/payment_request_api by Sinetheta 6 years ago
handle webpacker related versioning issues https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303 — committed to LaunchAcademy/make_it_so by dpickett 6 years ago
Add a home page and fix webpack version https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303#issuecomment-369090507 — committed to GPif/test_wttj by GPif 6 years ago
Downgrade webpack to 2.11 Ref: https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303 — committed to yeo/notyim by deleted user 6 years ago
:arrow_down: Downgrade "webpack-dev-server" to 2.11.2 Belongs to #332 Ref: rails/webpacker#1303 — committed to ledermann/docker-rails by ledermann 6 years ago
Downgrade WDS because of https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303 — committed to anicholson/dotnich2018 by anicholson 6 years ago
Downgrade to 2.11 as webpacker-dev-server not running in higer version https://github.com/rails/webpacker/issues/1303 — committed to redpanthers/starter by coderhs 5 years ago

Most upvoted comments

I was having the same issue with: Ruby: 2.4.1 Rails: 5.1.2 Node: 8.9.4

I was following the Readme instructions to upgrade(yarn upgrade webpack-dev-server --latest), however this installed webpack-dev-server v3.1.0. When I downgraded to v2.11.1 (yarn upgrade webpack-dev-server@^2.11.1) my dev server worked again!

+122

Terit on Feb 28, 2018

I can confirm. Sticking with 2.11.1 works for the interim.

freestylebit on Feb 28, 2018

use webpack-dev-server@2.9.1 version npm i webpack-dev-server@2.9.1 --save dev when terminal shows npm audit fix then do not use this otherwise npm will install latest webpack-dev-server

Reverting back to version 2.9.1 still shows the security hole:

# Run  npm install --save-dev webpack-dev-server@3.1.14  to resolve 1 vulnerability
SEMVER WARNING: Recommended action is a potentially breaking change
┌───────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ High          │ Missing Origin Validation                                    │
├───────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Package       │ webpack-dev-server                                           │
├───────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Dependency of │ webpack-dev-server [dev]                                     │
├───────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Path          │ webpack-dev-server                                           │
├───────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ More info     │ https://nodesecurity.io/advisories/725                       │
└───────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

stugoo on Jan 9, 2019

The problem with downgrading is that there’s a CVE for webpack-dev-server < 3.11.1 - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14732

sevenseacat on Jan 8, 2019

Operating System: Windows Node Version: 8.9.4 NPM Version: 6.5.0 webpack Version: 3.6.0 webpack-dev-server Version: 2.9.0

i’m having the same problem of cannot destructure property compile of 'undefined' or 'null' and my solution is at https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/issues/1259 @smackgg

with this command: npm install --save-dev webpack-dev-server@2.9.7

ImCharmainejoy on Dec 29, 2018

Thanks everyone. We will update Webpacker to use webpack 4.0 soon - in meantime please use the supported dev server version.

gauravtiwari on Mar 3, 2018

I experienced the same. Thank you for this solution.

roberttravispierce on Mar 2, 2018

Yep downgrading to 2.11.1 works. Rails 5.1.5

gavin667 on Mar 9, 2018

I confirm that @Terit solution works!

LukyVj on Mar 7, 2018

It seems like there should be some version ranges specified going to ease confusion. I’d be more than happy to help with implementation.

My proposal is to

change documentation - Depending on webpack version, you may not be able to use webpack-dev-sever@latest.
maybe have a check / warning to help new folks figure out what is going on when the specified versions don’t work together.

Happy to help out, and I know that there is a shift to webpack 4 where this won’t be an issue soon, but that’s not to say there won’t be the same issue in the future.

jeremywrowe on Mar 12, 2018

I met the same issue, and downgrading webpack-dev-server to 2.11.1 fixed it. Thanks!

pspgbhu on Mar 3, 2018

I’m seeing the same thing with:

Ruby: 2.5.0 Rails: 5.2.0.rc1 Node: v8.9.4

Morganjackson on Feb 28, 2018