npm install hanging on idealTree: Solutions and Fixes

When running npm install, you may encounter the process hanging at the "sill idealTree build" stage. This common issue can be frustrating, but there are several effective solutions to resolve it.

Problem Overview

The "idealTree" phase is where npm calculates the dependency tree for your project. When npm hangs at this stage, it's typically related to network connectivity, configuration issues, or system settings rather than your actual dependencies.

Common Solutions

1. Network Configuration Fixes

Disable IPv6

Many users report that IPv6 connectivity can cause npm to hang:

Windows:

• Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center
• Click "Change adapter settings"
• Right-click your connection → Properties
• Uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"

macOS:

• Go to System Preferences → Network
• Click Advanced → TCP/IP tab
• Set "Configure IPv6" to "Link-local only"

Linux (temporary):

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1
sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6=1

Linux (permanent): Edit /etc/default/grub and add ipv6.disable=1 to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT, then run:

sudo update-grub

VPN and Proxy Configuration

• Disconnect from VPN if active
• Check proxy settings in your .npmrc file
• Ensure repository URLs are correctly configured

2. SSL Certificate Issues

If you're behind a corporate firewall or using self-signed certificates:

npm config set strict-ssl false

WARNING

Disabling SSL verification reduces security. Only use this temporarily and revert when the issue is resolved.

3. Cache and Configuration Cleanup

Clear npm cache and remove existing node modules:

npm cache clean --force
rm -rf node_modules/
rm package-lock.json

Also check for certificate configuration issues:

npm config get cert
npm config get key

If these return values you don't recognize or need to reset:

npm config delete cert
npm config delete key

4. Registry Configuration

Ensure your npm registry is correctly set:

npm config set registry http://registry.npmjs.org/

For root users on Linux systems, create or copy .npmrc to the root home directory:

sudo cp ~/.npmrc /.npmrc

5. File Conflicts

Remove conflicting lock files if you've switched between package managers:

rm yarn.lock

Diagnostic Steps

To better understand what's happening, use verbose mode:

npm install --verbose

This will show you exactly where npm is spending time, which can help identify network bottlenecks.

INFO

If you see extremely long response times (e.g., 480928ms) for specific packages, this indicates network connectivity issues rather than npm itself.

Advanced Troubleshooting

Check System Time

Incorrect system time can cause SSL handshake failures:

# Check current time
date

# On Linux, sync time
sudo ntpdate pool.ntp.org

Environment Variables

Ensure proper proxy configuration:

# Check current environment variables
env | grep -i proxy

# Set NO_PROXY if needed
export NO_PROXY="your-private-registry.com"

When All Else Fails

If none of the above solutions work:

1. Try using a different network connection (e.g., mobile hotspot)
2. Temporarily disable firewall/antivirus software
3. Test with a simple new project to isolate the issue

mkdir test-project
cd test-project
npm init -y
npm install lodash

Conclusion

The "npm install hanging on idealTree" issue typically stems from network configuration problems rather than npm itself. By systematically testing these solutions—starting with IPv6 configuration and SSL settings—you should be able to resolve the hanging issue and successfully install your dependencies.

Remember to revert any security-reducing changes (like disabling SSL verification) once you've resolved the underlying connectivity issue.