Unable to install lwc-dev-server / run sfdx force:lightning:lwc:start

Question

I am trying to run LWC in local. I was able to install with errors

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfdx plugins:install @salesforce/lwc-dev-server
Polling for new version(s) to become available on npm... done
Successfully validated digital signature for @salesforce/lwc-dev-server.
Finished digital signature check.
Installing plugin @salesforce/lwc-dev-server... - [2/4] Fetching packages...
warning "@salesforce/lwc-dev-server > request-promise-native@1.0.9" has unmet peer dependency "request@^2.34".
warning "sfdx-plugin-source-read > @salesforce/command > @oclif/test > @oclif/core > ts-node@10.9.1" has unmet peer dependency "@types/node@*".
warning "sfdx-plugin-source-read > @salesforce/command > @oclif/test > @oclif/core > ts-node@10.9.1" has unmet peer dependency "typescript@>=2.7".
Installing plugin @salesforce/lwc-dev-server... - [4/4] Building fresh packages...
(node:14016) TypeError Plugin: @salesforce/lwc-dev-server: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'prototype')
module: @oclif/core@2.6.2
task: toCached
plugin: @salesforce/lwc-dev-server
root: C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\sfdx\node_modules\@salesforce\lwc-dev-server
See more details with DEBUG=*
Installing plugin @salesforce/lwc-dev-server... installed v2.11.0

while running I am getting following error.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfdx force:lightning:lwc:start
(node:20104) TypeError Plugin: @salesforce/lwc-dev-server: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'prototype')
module: @oclif/core@2.6.2
task: toCached
plugin: @salesforce/lwc-dev-server
root: C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\sfdx\node_modules\@salesforce\lwc-dev-server
See more details with DEBUG=*

Is local development even supported in March 2023? Looks like abandoned project but would love to get some confirmation from Salesforce.

Answer 1

From your description and logs, it seems like a compatibility issue between sfdx plugin and oclif version.

Update the @oclif/core module to the latest version by running the command npm install @oclif/core@latest, and reinstall the lwc-dev-server plugin.

Alternative approach, try updating the sfdx cli sfdx update and reinstalling the plugin.

Answer 2

I was able to overcome this by uninstalling Node v19.8.1 and installing Node v18.15.0.