nodejs/node · error · GypError

Dependency ' ' not found

Error message

Dependency '%s' not found

What it means

In VerifyNoGYPFileCircularDependencies, gyp builds a graph at the .gyp-FILE level (not target level). For each dependency it computes the build file; if that file differs from the current file and is not already a node, it raises GypError 'Dependency not found'. This means a .gyp file references another build file that gyp never loaded as a node.

Solutions

1. Confirm the referenced .gyp file path is correct and the file exists.
2. Make sure the .gyp file is actually included by the top-level build file (transitively).
3. Check relative-path resolution and OS path separators.
4. Ensure the target's declaring file is not hidden behind a false conditional.

Example fix

// before: 'dependencies': ['missing.gyp:x']  // missing.gyp never loaded
// after: add 'missing.gyp' to includes, or fix path to '../sub/missing.gyp:x'

import gyp.common, os
loaded_files = set(os.path.abspath(f) for f in build_files)
for t, spec in targets.items():
    bf = gyp.common.BuildFile(t)
    for d in spec.get('dependencies', []):
        dbf = gyp.common.BuildFile(d)
        if dbf != bf and os.path.abspath(dbf) not in loaded_files:
            raise SystemExit('Referenced build file not loaded: %r' % dbf)

try:
    gyp.main(args)
except gyp.input.GypError as e:
    if "Dependency '" in str(e) and 'not found' in str(e): print('Check .gyp file inclusion/paths'); raise

When it happens

Trigger: A .gyp file's dependency list names a qualified target whose build-file component (gyp.common.BuildFile(dependency)) yields a build file with no corresponding node in dependency_nodes. Reached during the file-level graph build before the cycle check.

Common situations: A dependency points at a .gyp file that was not included/loaded (wrong relative path, missing include, file deleted); path normalization differences; referencing a target in a file only loaded under a disabled conditional.

Related errors

• Dependency ' ' not found while trying to load target
• Found wildcard in of referring to same build file
• Attempt to merge dict value of type
• Attempt to merge dict value of unsupported type
• Attempt to merge list item of unsupported type

AI-assisted analysis of nodejs/node@1b2de5e052 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/eb937c1d803be9a5. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at tools/gyp/pylib/gyp/input.py:2009

    for target, spec in targets.items():
        build_file = gyp.common.BuildFile(target)
        build_file_node = dependency_nodes[build_file]
        target_dependencies = spec.get("dependencies", [])
        for dependency in target_dependencies:
            try:
                dependency_build_file = gyp.common.BuildFile(dependency)
            except GypError as e:
                gyp.common.ExceptionAppend(
                    e, "while computing dependencies of .gyp file %s" % build_file
                )
                raise

            if dependency_build_file == build_file:
                # A .gyp file is allowed to refer back to itself.
                continue
            dependency_node = dependency_nodes.get(dependency_build_file)
            if not dependency_node:
                raise GypError("Dependency '%s' not found" % dependency_build_file)
            if dependency_node not in build_file_node.dependencies:
                build_file_node.dependencies.append(dependency_node)
                dependency_node.dependents.append(build_file_node)

    # Files that have no dependencies are treated as dependent on root_node.
    root_node = DependencyGraphNode(None)
    for build_file_node in dependency_nodes.values():
        if len(build_file_node.dependencies) == 0:
            build_file_node.dependencies.append(root_node)
            root_node.dependents.append(build_file_node)

    flat_list = root_node.FlattenToList()

    # If there's anything left unvisited, there must be a circular dependency
    # (cycle).
    if len(flat_list) != len(dependency_nodes):
        if not root_node.dependents:
            # If all files have dependencies, add the first file as a dependent

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