Solving GitBook CLI Issues with Node.js Compatibility

GitBook is a popular tool for creating beautiful documentation and books using Markdown. However, you might encounter issues when using GitBook CLI due to compatibility problems with Node.js. This article walks you through resolving these issues step-by-step.

Symptoms of the Issue

When trying to use GitBook CLI commands such as gitbook serve or gitbook build, you might see errors like:

error: unknown command 'serve'
error: unknown command 'build'

Additionally, when trying to initialize a book with gitbook init, you might encounter an error related to graceful-fs:

TypeError: cb.apply is not a function

Step-by-Step Solution

Here are the steps to resolve these issues:

1. Check GitBook Version

Ensure you are using the correct version of GitBook. Use the following command to check your version:

gitbook --version

If you are using an older version, you might want to upgrade or reinstall GitBook CLI.

2. Install GitBook CLI v2

If you're not using GitBook CLI v2, install it globally:

npm install -g gitbook-cli

3. Downgrade Node.js

GitBook CLI v3.2.3 is known to work well with Node.js v14. You can use a tool like n (Node version manager) to switch Node.js versions easily.

First, install n:

npm install -g n

Then, install and use Node.js v14:

sudo n 14

After switching to Node.js v14, try running gitbook init and gitbook serve again.

4. Initialize and Serve the Book

Make sure you have a book.json file in your directory. If not, you can initialize a new book:

gitbook init

Then, serve the book locally:

gitbook serve

5. Use an Alternative: HonKit

Consider using HonKit, a maintained fork of GitBook that is more up-to-date with current Node.js versions.

Install HonKit globally:

npm install -g honkit

Then initialize and serve your book with HonKit:

honkit init
honkit serve

6. Install GitBook Locally

If downgrading Node.js is not an option, you can try installing GitBook locally in your project.

First, remove the global GitBook CLI:

npm uninstall -g gitbook-cli

Then, install GitBook locally in your project:

npm install gitbook-cli --save-dev

Initialize and serve your book using npx:

npx gitbook init
npx gitbook serve

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the compatibility issues between GitBook CLI and Node.js. Whether you choose to downgrade Node.js, use an alternative tool like HonKit, or install GitBook locally, you can continue creating and serving your documentation with ease.

For further assistance, refer to the official GitBook and HonKit documentation.