bug: `npm init stencil` fails with error code 1 on Windows

[khaledsAlshibani]

Prerequisites

• I have read the Contributing Guidelines.
• I agree to follow the Code of Conduct.
• I have searched for existing issues that already report this problem, without success.

Stencil Version

latest (4.29)

Current Behavior

Running the following command fails on Windows:

npm init stencil

After selecting component starter template, the CLI throws an error:

npm ERR! command C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /d /s /c create-stencil
npm ERR! code 1

Expected Behavior

The project should scaffold correctly after selecting a starter template when running npm init stencil.

Workaround:
Using npx create-stencil@latest works as expected and successfully scaffolds the project.

System Info

**npm**: 10.8.2
**node**: v20.11.0
**OS**: Windows 11

Steps to Reproduce

1. Run npm init stencil on Windows (PowerShell or CMD).
2. Choose component starter template.
3. Observe the error after selection.

Additional Information

• Tried running it using powershell, cmd, and git bash.
• I tried using a clean/empty project directory.
• Internet connection is fine, npx create-stencil@latest worked.
• Seems like create-stencil script is not resolving correctly when invoked via npm init.

[khaledsAlshibani]

Note:
I've been working with Projects using Stencil.js for over a year and have successfully initialized the component starter template many times in the past using npm init stencil. This issue seems to be a recent regression; the same workflow that used to work now fails consistently.

[danilodelfio]

The same issue also on MacOS

[christian-bromann]

The same issue also on MacOS

Can you provide more information?

[james-nash]

Also seeing this on mac OS, but only when I choose the component option. The other two app and ionic-pwa seem OK.

Environment:

• mac OS 15.4.1 (Sequoia)
• Node v20.19.0
• NPM v10.8.2

Steps to reproduce:

1. Run npm init stencil
2. In the wizard that appears, choose component and hit ENTER
   

Result:

It briefly flashes up the prompt for project name but then immediately crashes:

npm error code 1
npm error path /Users/james.nash/code/tmp
npm error command failed
npm error command sh -c create-stencil
npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/james.nash/.npm/_logs/2025-05-13T13_34_32_166Z-debug-0.log

...and the debug log file contents are:

0 verbose cli /opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/bin/node /opt/homebrew/bin/npm
1 info using npm@10.8.2
2 info using node@v20.19.0
3 silly config load:file:/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/npmrc
4 silly config load:file:/Users/james.nash/code/tmp/.npmrc
5 silly config load:file:/Users/james.nash/.npmrc
6 silly config load:file:/opt/homebrew/etc/npmrc
7 verbose title npm init stencil
8 verbose argv "init" "stencil"
9 verbose logfile logs-max:10 dir:/Users/james.nash/.npm/_logs/2025-05-13T13_34_32_166Z-
10 verbose logfile /Users/james.nash/.npm/_logs/2025-05-13T13_34_32_166Z-debug-0.log
11 silly logfile start cleaning logs, removing 1 files
12 silly packumentCache heap:4345298944 maxSize:1086324736 maxEntrySize:543162368
13 silly logfile done cleaning log files
14 http fetch GET 200 https://registry.npmjs.org/create-stencil 165ms (cache updated)
15 silly packumentCache heap:4345298944 maxSize:1086324736 maxEntrySize:543162368
16 verbose stack Error: command failed
16 verbose stack     at promiseSpawn (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/promise-spawn/lib/index.js:22:22)
16 verbose stack     at spawnWithShell (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/promise-spawn/lib/index.js:124:10)
16 verbose stack     at promiseSpawn (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/promise-spawn/lib/index.js:12:12)
16 verbose stack     at runScriptPkg (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/run-script/lib/run-script-pkg.js:77:13)
16 verbose stack     at runScript (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/run-script/lib/run-script.js:9:12)
16 verbose stack     at run (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/libnpmexec/lib/run-script.js:48:10)
16 verbose stack     at async exec (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/libnpmexec/lib/index.js:293:10)
16 verbose stack     at async Init.execCreate (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/commands/init.js:136:5)
16 verbose stack     at async Init.exec (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/commands/init.js:44:14)
16 verbose stack     at async Npm.exec (/opt/homebrew/Cellar/node@20/20.19.0_1/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/npm.js:207:9)
17 error code 1
18 error path /Users/james.nash/code/tmp
19 error command failed
20 error command sh -c create-stencil
21 verbose cwd /Users/james.nash/code/tmp
22 verbose os Darwin 24.4.0
23 verbose node v20.19.0
24 verbose npm  v10.8.2
25 verbose exit 1
26 verbose code 1
27 error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/james.nash/.npm/_logs/2025-05-13T13_34_32_166Z-debug-0.log

[christian-bromann]

Hey folks, I have a fix for this and am working to release it asap. Thanks for reporting.

[stefanhuber]

Since I am facing the same issue, I wonder if there is another way to create a new stencil component project?

[christian-bromann]

Hey @stefanhuber 👋 you can also clone https://github.com/stenciljs/component-starter to get started.

[khaledsAlshibani]

Since I am facing the same issue, I wonder if there is another way to create a new stencil component project?

Try running this npx create-stencil@latest.