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Is there a way to get Node.js Tools for Visual Studio installed on the build worker?

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Ondrej Pialek

16 Feb, 2015 06:57 PM

We use Node.js Tools for Visual Studio to develop node.js sites inside the Visual Studio experience. The tooling has custom msbuild targets and therefore needs to be installed on the build worker for the build to run. Is there any way to get the tooling on the box?

Currently we get the following message:
11 C:\projects\SOLUTION\src\PROJECT.njsproj(105,3): error MSB4019: The imported project "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v12.0\Node.js Tools\Microsoft.NodejsTools.targets" was not found.

The tooling is hosted on CodePlex: https://nodejstools.codeplex.com/

Thanks,
Ondrej.

1. Support Staff 1 Posted by Feodor Fitsner on 16 Feb, 2015 07:31 PM

   

   Yeah, we can schedule Node.js deployment for this week.

   In the meantime, why wouldn't you just pack required .targets files and reference assemblies into zip and then unpack it during the build to their original directories? Usually, you need like really few assemblies to support build process.

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2. 2 Posted by Ondrej Pialek on 16 Feb, 2015 07:38 PM

   

   What do you mean by scheduling Node.js deployment for this week? You mean you would add support for Node.js Tools for Visual Studio or something else?

   As for the zip package that's a good idea!

   What I am currently trying is the following inside a yml:

    - ps: (new-object net.webclient).DownloadFile(URLTONODEJSTOOLS, 'nodetools.msi')
    - ps: msiexec /i nodetools.msi /quiet /qn /norestart /log install.log

   I am running into issues with CodePlex though as it doesn't seem to provide a permalink to downloads... gr.. Will probably have to include the MSI in the repo.

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3. Support Staff 3 Posted by Feodor Fitsner on 16 Feb, 2015 07:44 PM

   

   Yes, I mean we could install it on build workers (add to the image).

   As for CodePlex - try using Fiddler to see a real download link. What I was meaning is that you could do a smaller zip with exactly what you need. Node.js tools package has a lot more stuff like IDE tooling, not just files required for the build. If you look into Microsoft.NodejsTools.targets you will see dependent assemblies.

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4. 4 Posted by Ondrej Pialek on 16 Feb, 2015 07:50 PM

   

   Wow that would be great if you could add it. It is a Microsoft project after all, so it would make sense since you support so many of their SDKs already.

   I tried using the URL the JS downloader constructs but I think it is using some other trickery as well, such as some unique codes and cookies, as the URL I obtained (http://download-codeplex.sec.s-msft.com/Download/Release?ProjectName=nodejstools&DownloadId=1388201&FileTime=130653263567330000&Build=20959) gave me a HTTP 500: "The remote server returned an error: (500) Internal Server Error."

   I get the suggestion with the zip file, you are right that I would probably end up with a smaller artefact being deployed to the box. Just trying to do it "properly" before having to build my own zip package that I would have to manually rebuild once they release a new version :)

   Thanks a lot for your help Feodor!

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5. 5 Posted by Thomas Schreite... on 31 Aug, 2016 11:01 PM

   

   Running into a similar issue when building on Visual Studio Online:

   Error MSB4019: The imported project "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v14.0\Node.js Tools\Microsoft.NodejsTools.targets" was not found. Confirm that the path in the <Import> declaration is correct, and that the file exists on disk.

   Are the Nodejs Tools included on the build workers? Or are the other ways to fix it?

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6. Support Staff 6 Posted by Feodor Fitsner on 01 Sep, 2016 01:19 AM

   

   Yes, Node.js Tools version 1.1.1 is installed on AppVeyor build workers.

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7. Support Staff 7 Posted by Feodor Fitsner on 01 Sep, 2016 01:23 AM

   

   Will update to 1.2 during the next update. Watch this issue: https://github.com/appveyor/ci/issues/1009

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8. Ondrej Pialek closed this discussion on 22 Sep, 2017 03:39 PM.