fix: "Unable to obtain node version." in git bash windows

[svihpinc]

$ nvm install-latest-npm
Attempting to upgrade to the latest working version of npm... Unable to obtain node version.

Fixes "Unable to obtain node version." error in git bash (for windows). running npm --version without command does not print anything to stdout.
running nvm_echo "$(command where node)" gives the windows path, like so: C:\Users\user\portable_apps\.nvm\versions\node\v18.20.2\bin\node.exe. It might be the cause.

Its a stretch, but this could also be related to #2780

[ljharb]

That doesn’t make sense - if node --version prints nothing, how does any node command work?

[ljharb]

Either way, the windows version of node shouldn’t be in play here, since if you’re using nvm, the entire point is to install a no -windows version of node.

[svihpinc]

I haven't been able to figure out why it works with command either.

There's only nvm node installed on my system, the is no windows version, other than the ones installed by nvm.

where node prints the windows path, instead of the Linux like path, eg: /c/Users/user....

[ljharb]

ah, well that's expected since where is windows-only - which node presumably would print the linux-like path.

[ljharb]

what does type -a node print out?

[svihpinc]

You're right

$ which node
/c/Users/sriram1001/portable_apps/.nvm/versions/node/v18.20.2/bin/node

I'm not sure what winpty is, I get the following output

$ type -a node
node is aliased to `winpty node.exe'
node is /c/Users/sriram1001/portable_apps/.nvm/versions/node/v18.20.2/bin/node

[ljharb]

so that alias - probably in a shell profile file - is what's causing the problem.

[svihpinc]

I only have one ~/.bash_profile. Does git bash itself create any configs? I'll try to find where this is set

[svihpinc]

Looks like its an alias added by git bash. Adding unalias node to ~/.bash_profile worked for me.

https://stackoverflow.com/a/44835766/8478131

Thanks @ljharb