WSL : mocha from sudo apt install mocha crashes with fresh install

ONLINECAST

2 min read

·

05-10-2024

3

0

Share

Mocha Crashing After "sudo apt install mocha" on WSL? Here's the Fix!

Problem: You've just installed Mocha on your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) using sudo apt install mocha, but when you try to run your tests, you're met with an error or a crash. This is a frustrating experience, especially when you're eager to start testing your code.

Solution: This issue stems from a common misconception about how Mocha works on WSL. While installing Mocha using apt does install the necessary binaries, it doesn't automatically set up the Mocha environment for your user. Let's break down the problem and find a solution.

Understanding the Problem:

WSL, while powerful, operates differently from native Linux systems. The sudo apt install mocha command places Mocha's binaries within the system's /usr/bin directory. However, this directory is not inherently part of your user's PATH environment variable, which is where your shell searches for executable commands.

Fixing the Issue:

1. Manually Add Mocha to your PATH:

   • Step 1: Open a terminal in your WSL environment.

   • Step 2: Edit your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc) with your favorite text editor.

   • Step 3: Add the following line to the end of the file:

     export PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin
     

   • Step 4: Save the file and close the terminal.

   • Step 5: Open a new terminal window. Now, Mocha should be available in your user's environment!

2. Alternative: Use npm:

   While apt is great for system-wide packages, you might find it more convenient to install Mocha locally for your project using Node Package Manager (npm):

   • Step 1: Ensure you have Node.js and npm installed in your WSL environment.

   • Step 2: Navigate to your project directory.

   • Step 3: Run the command:

     npm install -g mocha
     

   • This installs Mocha globally within your user's environment.

Troubleshooting:

• Verify installation: After adding the path or installing Mocha with npm, ensure that you can run the mocha --version command without errors.
• Check for permissions: If you're still experiencing issues, double-check if you have read and execute permissions for /usr/bin by running ls -l /usr/bin. If necessary, use sudo chmod +rx /usr/bin to adjust permissions.

Conclusion:

By correctly configuring your PATH or using npm for installation, you've overcome the "mocha crashing" hurdle and are ready to write and execute your tests within WSL. Remember, testing is crucial for building robust software, and a smooth testing environment is essential.

For further exploration, you can refer to the Mocha documentation https://mochajs.org/ and the WSL documentation https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10 for additional information and support. Happy testing!