[BUG] npm install --legacy-peer-deps throws error Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'spec')

[Roaders]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

running the command

npm install rxjs --legacy-peer-deps

with the npm package.json:

{
  "name": "peer-error",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "",
  "main": "index.js",
  "author": "",
  "license": "ISC",
  "peerDependencies": {
    "rxjs": "^7"
  }
}

gives the result:

D:\playground\peer-error - Copy>npm install rxjs --legacy-peer-deps
npm ERR! Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'spec')

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in: C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_logs\2023-05-16T07_36_43_983Z-debug-0.log 

Expected Behavior

the install should succeed

Steps To Reproduce

1. In this environment...
   Windows
2. With this config...

{
  "name": "peer-error",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "",
  "main": "index.js",
  "author": "",
  "license": "ISC",
  "peerDependencies": {
    "rxjs": "^7"
  }
}

4. Run '...'
   npm install rxjs --legacy-peer-deps
5. See error...
   npm ERR! Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'spec')

verbose title npm install rxjs
23 verbose argv "install" "rxjs" "--legacy-peer-deps"
24 timing npm:load:setTitle Completed in 1ms
25 timing config:load:flatten Completed in 2ms
26 timing npm:load:display Completed in 2ms
27 verbose logfile logs-max:10 dir:C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_logs
28 verbose logfile C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_logs\2023-05-16T07_35_03_353Z-debug-0.log
29 timing npm:load:logFile Completed in 3ms
30 timing npm:load:timers Completed in 0ms
31 timing npm:load:configScope Completed in 0ms
32 timing npm:load Completed in 15ms
33 timing arborist:ctor Completed in 1ms
34 silly logfile start cleaning logs, removing 4 files
35 timing arborist:ctor Completed in 1ms
36 silly logfile done cleaning log files
37 timing idealTree:init Completed in 6ms
38 timing idealTree:userRequests Completed in 1ms
39 silly idealTree buildDeps
40 timing idealTree:#root Completed in 0ms
41 timing idealTree:buildDeps Completed in 1ms
42 timing idealTree:fixDepFlags Completed in 0ms
43 timing idealTree Completed in 8ms
44 timing reify:loadTrees Completed in 8ms
45 timing reify:diffTrees Completed in 1ms
46 silly reify moves {}
47 timing reify:retireShallow Completed in 0ms
48 timing reify:createSparse Completed in 0ms
49 timing reify:loadBundles Completed in 0ms
50 silly audit report null
51 timing reify:audit Completed in 0ms
52 timing reify:unpack Completed in 0ms
53 timing reify:unretire Completed in 0ms
54 timing build:queue Completed in 0ms
55 timing build:deps Completed in 0ms
56 timing build Completed in 0ms
57 timing reify:build Completed in 0ms
58 timing reify:trash Completed in 0ms
59 timing command:install Completed in 18ms
60 verbose stack TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'spec')
60 verbose stack     at updateNodes (C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\@npmcli\arborist\lib\arborist\reify.js:1179:44)
60 verbose stack     at [saveIdealTree] (C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\@npmcli\arborist\lib\arborist\reify.js:1348:11)
60 verbose stack     at Arborist.reify (C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\node_modules\@npmcli\arborist\lib\arborist\reify.js:156:31)
60 verbose stack     at async Install.exec (C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\lib\commands\install.js:145:5)
60 verbose stack     at async module.exports (C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\lib\cli.js:78:5)
61 verbose cwd D:\playground\peer-error - Copy
62 verbose Windows_NT 10.0.22621
63 verbose node v18.15.0
64 verbose npm  v8.19.2
65 error Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'spec')
66 verbose exit 1
67 timing npm Completed in 105ms
68 verbose unfinished npm timer reify 1684222503438
69 verbose unfinished npm timer reify:save 1684222503455
70 verbose code 1
71 error A complete log of this run can be found in:
71 error     C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_logs\2023-05-16T07_35_03_353Z-debug-0.log

Environment

• npm: 9.6.6
• Node.js: 18.15.0
• OS Name: Windows
• npm config:

; "builtin" config from C:\Users\Giles\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\npm\npmrc

prefix = "C:\\Users\\Giles\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm"

; node bin location = C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe
; node version = v18.15.0
; npm local prefix = D:\playground\peer-error - Copy
; npm version = 9.6.6
; cwd = D:\playground\peer-error - Copy
; HOME = C:\Users\Giles
; Run `npm config ls -l` to show all defaults.

[Roaders]

this is an issue on npm version 8 and on latest npm version 9 (9.6.6)

[wraithgar]

#4819
#5961