Develop Reference

How do I resolve "npm run babel" error in VS code?

What am trying to do is convert modern javascript code to old code using babel.
When I hit enter on "node_modules/.bin/babel src/index.js -o dizt/azzetz/bundle.js", it works but when I include it in the package.json file then hit enter on "npm run babel" in the terminal it doesn't work.
This is the scripts object inside my "package.json" file.
"scripts": {
"babel": "node_modules/.bin/babel src/index.js -o dizt/azzetz/bundle.js"
}
When I hit enter on "npm run babel" in the terminal, I get this error below.
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the 61#1.0.0 babel script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR! C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\_logs\2020-12-06T08_05_12_938Z-debug.log
This is my .babelrc config file.
{
"presets": ["#babel/preset-env"]
}
This is what the log file looks like.
0 info it worked if it ends with ok
1 verbose cli [
1 verbose cli 'C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe',
1 verbose cli 'C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js',
1 verbose cli 'run',
1 verbose cli 'babel'
1 verbose cli ]
2 info using npm#6.14.8
3 info using node#v14.15.0
4 verbose run-script [ 'prebabel', 'babel', 'postbabel' ]
5 info lifecycle 61#1.0.0~prebabel: 61#1.0.0
6 info lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: 61#1.0.0
7 verbose lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: unsafe-perm in lifecycle true
8 verbose lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: PATH: C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\node-gyp-bin;C:\Users\user\Documents\ninja\19. Modern Workflow with Babel & Webpack\61\node_modules\.bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\;C:\Program Files\nodejs\;C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\bin;C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;;C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\bin;C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\npm
9 verbose lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: CWD: C:\Users\user\Documents\ninja\19. Modern Workflow with Babel & Webpack\61
10 silly lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: Args: [ '/d /s /c', 'babel src/index.js -o dizt/azzetz/bundle.js' ]
11 silly lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: Returned: code: 1 signal: null
12 info lifecycle 61#1.0.0~babel: Failed to exec babel script
13 verbose stack Error: 61#1.0.0 babel: `babel src/index.js -o dizt/azzetz/bundle.js`
13 verbose stack Exit status 1
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.<anonymous> (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\index.js:332:16)
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.emit (events.js:315:20)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\lib\spawn.js:55:14)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:315:20)
13 verbose stack at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:1048:16)
13 verbose stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:288:5)
14 verbose pkgid 61#1.0.0
15 verbose cwd C:\Users\user\Documents\ninja\19. Modern Workflow with Babel & Webpack\61
16 verbose Windows_NT 10.0.18362
17 verbose argv "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe" "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "run" "babel"
18 verbose node v14.15.0
19 verbose npm v6.14.8
20 error code ELIFECYCLE
21 error errno 1
22 error 61#1.0.0 babel: `babel src/index.js -o dizt/azzetz/bundle.js`
22 error Exit status 1
23 error Failed at the 61#1.0.0 babel script.
23 error This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
24 verbose exit [ 1, true ]

How I start React project through terminal?

I am trying to create a new react-app using, npx create-react-app <app name> like this:
npx create-react-app new-app
But after downloading it is hanging over. I mean it is doing nothing. I've reinstalled node.js so that it is the latest version.
Final result I'm getting is:
Creating a new React app in D:\DesktopD\aapp.
Installing packages. This might take a couple of minutes.
Installing react, react-dom, and react-scripts with cra-template...
> core-js#2.6.11 postinstall D:\DesktopD\aapp\node_modules\babel-runtime\node_modules\core-js
> node -e "try{require('./postinstall')}catch(e){}"
> core-js#3.6.5 postinstall D:\DesktopD\aapp\node_modules\core-js
> node -e "try{require('./postinstall')}catch(e){}"
> core-js-pure#3.6.5 postinstall D:\DesktopD\aapp\node_modules\core-js-pure
> node -e "try{require('./postinstall')}catch(e){}"
+ cra-template#1.0.3
+ react-scripts#3.4.3
+ react#16.13.1
+ react-dom#16.13.1
added 1596 packages from 745 contributors and audited 1600 packages in 162.58s
71 packages are looking for funding
run `npm fund` for details
found 0 vulnerabilities
When I command "npm start" following errors are occuring:
$ npm start
npm ERR! missing script: start
npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR! C:\Users\2019\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\_logs\2020-10-11T06_03_19_532Z-debug.log
Here is the above mentioned Log file.
0 info it worked if it ends with ok
1 verbose cli [
1 verbose cli 'D:\\NodeJs\\node.exe',
1 verbose cli 'D:\\NodeJs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js',
1 verbose cli 'start'
1 verbose cli ]
2 info using npm#6.14.8
3 info using node#v12.19.0
4 verbose stack Error: missing script: start
4 verbose stack at run (D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\lib\run-script.js:155:19)
4 verbose stack at D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\lib\run-script.js:63:5
4 verbose stack at D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\read-package-json\read-json.js:116:5
4 verbose stack at D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\read-package-json\read-json.js:436:5
4 verbose stack at checkBinReferences_ (D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\read-package-json\read-json.js:391:45)
4 verbose stack at final (D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\read-package-json\read-json.js:434:3)
4 verbose stack at then (D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\read-package-json\read-json.js:161:5)
4 verbose stack at ReadFileContext.<anonymous> (D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\read-package-json\read-json.js:350:20)
4 verbose stack at ReadFileContext.callback (D:\NodeJs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\graceful-fs\graceful-fs.js:123:16)
4 verbose stack at FSReqCallback.readFileAfterOpen [as oncomplete] (fs.js:261:13)
5 verbose cwd D:\DesktopD\my-app3
6 verbose Windows_NT 10.0.17763
7 verbose argv "D:\\NodeJs\\node.exe" "D:\\NodeJs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "start"
8 verbose node v12.19.0
9 verbose npm v6.14.8
10 error missing script: start
11 verbose exit [ 1, true ]
Here is the package.json file:
{
"name": "aapp",
"version": "0.1.0",
"private": true,
"dependencies": {
"cra-template": "1.0.3",
"react": "16.13.1",
"react-dom": "16.13.1",
"react-scripts": "3.4.3"
}
}

71 Packages needs funding which means these lists of the modules you have need contributions or donations of money to their projects.You can turn these off by this command
npm config set fund false --global
also stop core-js by this command
npm install --no-fund core-js

npm run dev execution webpack error, My webpack is newly installed

My webpack is just installed, the following is my project environment:
webpack.config.js
const path = require('path')
module.exports = {
// 打包模式
mode: "development",
// 打包入口文件
entry: path.join(__dirname, './src/index.js'),
output: {
// 输出文件路径
path: path.join(__dirname, './dist'),
// 输出文件名称
filename: 'bundle.js'
}
}
package.json
{
"name": "test_webpack",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
"dev": "webpack"
},
"keywords": [],
"author": "",
"license": "ISC",
"devDependencies": {
"webpack": "^4.41.2",
"webpack-cli": "^3.3.10"
}
}
Execute npm run dev, Output the following
λ npm run dev
> test_webpack#1.0.0 dev D:\WWW\test_webpack
> webpack
#
# Fatal error in , line 0
# Check failed: U_SUCCESS(status).
#
#
#
#FailureMessage Object: 000000A5D21ECF70npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 3221225477
npm ERR! test_webpack#1.0.0 dev: `webpack`
npm ERR! Exit status 3221225477
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the test_webpack#1.0.0 dev script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR! C:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\_logs\2019-11-19T07_20_00_087Z-debug.log
C:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache_logs\2019-11-19T07_20_00_087Z-debug.log:
0 info it worked if it ends with ok
1 verbose cli [
1 verbose cli 'D:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe',
1 verbose cli 'D:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js',
1 verbose cli 'run',
1 verbose cli 'dev'
1 verbose cli ]
2 info using npm#6.9.0
3 info using node#v12.0.0
4 verbose run-script [ 'predev', 'dev', 'postdev' ]
5 info lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~predev: test_webpack#1.0.0
6 info lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: test_webpack#1.0.0
7 verbose lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: unsafe-perm in lifecycle true
8 verbose lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: PATH: D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\nvm\v12.0.0\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\node-gyp-bin;D:\WWW\test_webpack\node_modules\.bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\conemu-maximus5\ConEmu\Scripts;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\conemu-maximus5;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\conemu-maximus5\ConEmu;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH\;D:\Program Files\Microsoft VS Code\bin;D:\Program Files (x86)\Tencent\QQ\Bin;D:\Program Files\PremiumSoft\Navicat Premium 12;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\ffmpeg\bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\nvm;D:\Program Files\nodejs;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\Scripts\;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\;C:\Users\cangs\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;D:\Program Files\JetBrains\PhpStorm 2019.2.5\bin;C:\Program Files\Bandizip\;D:\Program Files\JetBrains\PyCharm 2019.2.4\bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\nvm;D:\Program Files\nodejs;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\git-for-windows\cmd;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\git-for-windows\mingw64\bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder\vendor\git-for-windows\usr\bin;D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\cmder
9 verbose lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: CWD: D:\WWW\test_webpack
10 silly lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: Args: [ '/d /s /c', 'webpack' ]
11 silly lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: Returned: code: 3221225477 signal: null
12 info lifecycle test_webpack#1.0.0~dev: Failed to exec dev script
13 verbose stack Error: test_webpack#1.0.0 dev: `webpack`
13 verbose stack Exit status 3221225477
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.<anonymous> (D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\nvm\v12.0.0\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\index.js:301:16)
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.emit (events.js:196:13)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (D:\Users\cangs\AppData\Roaming\nvm\v12.0.0\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\lib\spawn.js:55:14)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:196:13)
13 verbose stack at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:1000:16)
13 verbose stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:267:5)
14 verbose pkgid test_webpack#1.0.0
15 verbose cwd D:\WWW\test_webpack
16 verbose Windows_NT 10.0.17763
17 verbose argv "D:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe" "D:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "run" "dev"
18 verbose node v12.0.0
19 verbose npm v6.9.0
20 error code ELIFECYCLE
21 error errno 3221225477
22 error test_webpack#1.0.0 dev: `webpack`
22 error Exit status 3221225477
23 error Failed at the test_webpack#1.0.0 dev script.
23 error This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
24 verbose exit [ 3221225477, true ]
But execute node_modules/.bin/webpack is allowed
λ node_modules\.bin\webpack
#
# Fatal error in , line 0
# Check failed: U_SUCCESS(status).
#
#
#
#FailureMessage Object: 000000A3F1AFD030
I can't know the way to solve the error from the error message output. I hope that more experienced people can help me.

Cannot read property 'thisCompilation' of undefined - react-scripts-ts

I created a new project, totally blank using these instructions:
https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric#/get-started
Follow steps 1-4
The application works fine.
Once I run npm i webpack
Then I get this error
my package.json
{
"name": "lulo",
"version": "0.1.0",
"private": true,
"dependencies": {
"office-ui-fabric-react": "^6.157.0",
"react": "^16.8.4",
"react-adal": "^0.4.22",
"react-dom": "^16.8.4",
"react-scripts-ts": "3.1.0",
"redux": "^4.0.1"
},
"scripts": {
"start": "react-scripts-ts start",
"build": "react-scripts-ts build",
"test": "react-scripts-ts test --env=jsdom",
"eject": "react-scripts-ts eject"
},
"devDependencies": {
"#types/jest": "^24.0.11",
"#types/node": "^11.11.3",
"#types/react": "^16.8.8",
"#types/react-adal": "^0.4.1",
"#types/react-dom": "^16.8.2",
"typescript": "^3.3.3333",
"webpack": "^4.29.6",
"webpack-cli": "^3.3.0"
}
}
the error is this:
Creating an optimized production build...
Starting type checking and linting service...
Using 1 worker with 2048MB memory limit
Failed to compile.
Cannot read property 'thisCompilation' of undefined
npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! lulo#0.1.0 build: `react-scripts-ts build`
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the lulo#0.1.0 build script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR! /Users/luisvalencia/.npm/_logs/2019-03-19T21_18_01_997Z-debug.log
and the log file has this
0 info it worked if it ends with ok
1 verbose cli [ '/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/bin/node',
1 verbose cli '/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/bin/npm',
1 verbose cli 'run-script',
1 verbose cli 'build' ]
2 info using npm#5.6.0
3 info using node#v10.0.0
4 verbose run-script [ 'prebuild', 'build', 'postbuild' ]
5 info lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~prebuild: lulo#0.1.0
6 info lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: lulo#0.1.0
7 verbose lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: unsafe-perm in lifecycle true
8 verbose lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: PATH: /Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/npm-lifecycle/node-gyp-bin:/Users/x/Lulo/lulo/node_modules/.bin:/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin
9 verbose lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: CWD: /Users/x/Lulo/lulo
10 silly lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: Args: [ '-c', 'react-scripts-ts build' ]
11 silly lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: Returned: code: 1 signal: null
12 info lifecycle lulo#0.1.0~build: Failed to exec build script
13 verbose stack Error: lulo#0.1.0 build: `react-scripts-ts build`
13 verbose stack Exit status 1
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.<anonymous> (/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/npm-lifecycle/index.js:285:16)
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.emit (events.js:182:13)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/npm-lifecycle/lib/spawn.js:55:14)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:182:13)
13 verbose stack at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:947:16)
13 verbose stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:236:5)
14 verbose pkgid lulo#0.1.0
15 verbose cwd /Users/luisvalencia/Lulo/lulo
16 verbose Darwin 18.0.0
17 verbose argv "/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/bin/node" "/Users/x/.nvm/versions/node/v10.0.0/bin/npm" "run-script" "build"
18 verbose node v10.0.0
19 verbose npm v5.6.0
20 error code ELIFECYCLE
21 error errno 1
22 error lulo#0.1.0 build: `react-scripts-ts build`
22 error Exit status 1
23 error Failed at the lulo#0.1.0 build script.
23 error This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
24 verbose exit [ 1, true ]

This thread has the answer:
https://github.com/facebook/create-react-app/issues/4076
Basically, delete node_modules and remove webpack from package.json dependencies, then npm install. Some people resolved by using yarn instead of npm.

I too struggled to resolve this error for quite sometime. The problem in my case was due to transitive dependency. Although, "webpack" was not explicitly mentioned as dependency in my project package.json, I found 2 versions of "webpack" in package-lock.json. One was used by "react-scripts" and other by "react-nbsp", which I had mentioned as dependency in package.json, and was using it to get non breaking space in React JSX.
I removed "react-nbsp" from package.json, deleted node-modules, package-lock.json and ran the application. It started without error and worked fine.

Webpack build fails only when webpack.config.js exists

I've searched this to death and haven't found a solution. I'm using webpack for the first time not set up for me via Laravel of Vue.js automated tools. Webpack builds just fine in production or development modes without the webpack.config.js config file present (zero-config mode), but throws a very unhelpful error when I add in the webpack.config.js file to set up the Babel loader. I'm on Windows, if that affects anything.
My package.json:
{
"name": "portfolio_update",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "Port to Vue.js",
"main": "src/index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
"build": "webpack --mode production",
"dev": "webpack --mode development",
"watch": "webpack --watch --mode production"
},
"author": "Jake Runge",
"license": "ISC",
"devDependencies": {
"babel-core": "^6.26.3",
"babel-loader": "^7.1.4",
"babel-preset-env": "^1.7.0",
"webpack": "^4.12.0",
"webpack-cli": "^3.0.8"
},
"dependencies": {
"jquery": "^3.3.1"
}
}
webpack.config.js:
module.exports = {
module: {
rules: [{
test: /\.js$/,
exclude: /node_modules/,
loader: 'babel-loader'
}]
}
}
unhelpful debug log:
0 info it worked if it ends with ok
1 verbose cli [ 'C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe',
1 verbose cli 'C:\\Users\\jwrun\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js',
1 verbose cli 'run',
1 verbose cli 'dev' ]
2 info using npm#5.8.0
3 info using node#v8.9.3
4 verbose run-script [ 'predev', 'dev', 'postdev' ]
5 info lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~predev: portfolio_update#1.0.0
6 info lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: portfolio_update#1.0.0
7 verbose lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: unsafe-perm in lifecycle true
8 verbose lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: PATH: C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\node-gyp-bin;C:\Bitnami\wampstack-7.1.12-0\apache2\htdocs\Portfolio_update\node_modules\.bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\iCLS Client\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intel\Shared Libraries\redist\intel64\compiler;C:\Program Files\Intel\iCLS Client\;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common;C:\Program Files\nodejs\;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files\PuTTY\;C:\Bitnami\wampstack-7.1.12-0\php;C:\ProgramData\ComposerSetup\bin;C:\HashiCorp\Vagrant\bin;C:\Program Files\Git\cmd;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\DAL;C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\DAL;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\IPT;C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\IPT;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH\;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\Scripts\;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop\bin;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Roaming\npm;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Roaming\Composer\vendor\bin;C:\Program Files\Microsoft VS Code\bin;C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\3.6\bin
9 verbose lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: CWD: C:\Bitnami\wampstack-7.1.12-0\apache2\htdocs\Portfolio_update
10 silly lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: Args: [ '/d /s /c', 'webpack --mode development' ]
11 silly lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: Returned: code: 1 signal: null
12 info lifecycle portfolio_update#1.0.0~dev: Failed to exec dev script
13 verbose stack Error: portfolio_update#1.0.0 dev: `webpack --mode development`
13 verbose stack Exit status 1
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.<anonymous> (C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\index.js:283:16)
13 verbose stack at emitTwo (events.js:126:13)
13 verbose stack at EventEmitter.emit (events.js:214:7)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.<anonymous> (C:\Users\jwrun\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\npm-lifecycle\lib\spawn.js:55:14)
13 verbose stack at emitTwo (events.js:126:13)
13 verbose stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:214:7)
13 verbose stack at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:925:16)
13 verbose stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:209:5)
14 verbose pkgid portfolio_update#1.0.0
15 verbose cwd C:\Bitnami\wampstack-7.1.12-0\apache2\htdocs\Portfolio_update
16 verbose Windows_NT 10.0.17134
17 verbose argv "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe" "C:\\Users\\jwrun\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "run" "dev"
18 verbose node v8.9.3
19 verbose npm v5.8.0
20 error code ELIFECYCLE
21 error errno 1
22 error portfolio_update#1.0.0 dev: `webpack --mode development`
22 error Exit status 1
23 error Failed at the portfolio_update#1.0.0 dev script.
23 error This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
24 verbose exit [ 1, true ]
Other setup is standard: There is the recommended src/ folder containing index.js entry point, and a dist/ folder to receive the bundled main.js file. It all works until I create the webpack.config.js file--even blank, with no configuration, I get an error. The file cannot exist or I get an error.
Thanks for any help and guidance anyone can give!

At last, I got it figured out! I wish the answer were complex and difficult to implement, given all the time I've put into this issue, but it was as simple as updating my Node and NPM versions.
I updated NPM from 5.8.0 to 6.1.0; I updated Node from 8.9.3 to the most recent, 10.4.1. Webpack does not need specified entry and output settings in the config file.
This was fairly unscientific, so I'm not sure if it was the Node upgrade or the NPM upgrade that helped, or if I could have updated to a less recent version of either--but if anyone else is having trouble, try a more recent Node or NPM version.