Error using CLI with protobufjs installed in project due to missing semver

[kenny-house]

protobuf.js version: 6.5.0

Attempting to use the pbjs CLI within a package to generate static module. Error: Cannot find module 'semver' is thrown. Note that pbjs is not installed globally in this instance.

The issue appears to be that semver is not included as a dependency in the package.json (but is instead a devDependency).

npm install protobufjs --save
node_modules/protobufjs/bin/pbjs -t static-module -p ./protos/*.proto -o ./gen/protos.js ./protos/*.proto

installing semver@^5.3.0 (Cannot find module 'semver/package.json')

Error: Cannot find module 'semver'
    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:325:15)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:276:25)
    at Module.require (module.js:353:17)
    at require (internal/module.js:12:17)
    at PROJECT_PATH/node_modules/protobufjs/cli/util.js:94:22
    at Array.forEach (native)
    at Object.exports.setup (PROJECT_PATH/node_modules/protobufjs/cli/util.js:82:25)
    at Object.<anonymous> (PROJECT_PATH/node_modules/protobufjs/cli/pbjs.js:7:6)
    at Module._compile (module.js:409:26)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:416:10)

[kenny-house]

Ah, I didn't realize the behavior of the CLI util setup function installing missing CLI dependencies.

The solution I have working at the moment is at: master...Kenny-House:semver-dependency

I've separated the semver install into a specific case at the beginning of the setup, as opposed to being one of the cliDependencies. The exact semver version is checked and installed if it is missing or doesn't match.

I'm happy to submit that as a PR, but I'm not familiar enough with this project's constraints and preferences to know if that solution is acceptable.

[dcodeIO]

Thanks, I've modified the setup stuff accordingly and implemented an explicit check for module directories. Let me know if this is working for you!

[kenny-house]

Thanks @dcodeIO, the latest update works great!

Closing the issue.