Issue with Installing Private GitHub Package: "405 Method Not Allowed" & "Incorrect Packument"

[shubhenducw]

Private GitHub Package Installation

Question : Was working fine until the error : Incorrect Packument

Body

We have an internal package for our Database Queries, which is stored in the GitHub package registry and installed using the npm command. Now, since yesterday, when we bumped a patch version and successfully published it to the registry, installing it using the npm command gives a "405 Method Not Allowed" error.

So, we tried to install the previous version that we were using and got another error: "loading from incorrect packument." And keep in mind that it was working perfectly before our minor patch.

[jeria93]

The issue appears to stem from the metadata (packument) that GitHub’s Package Registry serves for your package. Essentially, after you bumped the patch version, the registry started returning unexpected data or using a method that npm does not recognize.

This is why:

• Installing the new patch results in a “405 Method Not Allowed” error, which indicates that the HTTP method npm is using is not permitted by the endpoint.

• Attempting to install the previous version then fails with “loading from incorrect packument,” suggesting that the packument data is no longer in the format that npm expects—even though it worked before your patch update.

• To resolve this, you might consider the following steps:

• Review your package configuration: Ensure that your package’s metadata (such as the version and package.json fields) adheres to the expected standards.

• Check your .npmrc and authentication: Verify that your .npmrc file and GitHub tokens are correctly configured for accessing the GitHub Package Registry.

• Clear npm cache: Sometimes stale cache data can cause unexpected behavior.

• Republish with a new version: Try publishing a new version to see if that resolves the packument format issue.

• Contact GitHub support: If the problem persists, it might be a bug or a change on GitHub’s end, so checking GitHub’s status or support channels could provide further insights.

This indicates that the problem isn’t with npm itself, but rather with the way GitHub’s registry is handling your package’s metadata after the patch.