Resolving Node.js `pprof` Install Errors on arm64 macOS

The error you're encountering indicates a failure in building the native C++ extensions when attempting to install the pprof package. This happens when node-pre-gyp and node-gyp try to compile these extensions from source as no pre-built binaries are available for your current environment (Node.js v20.18.0 on an arm64 macOS).

Here are several steps you can take to address this issue:

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Ensure Xcode Command Line Tools are Installed:

   • Make sure you have the necessary build tools installed. You can do this by running:

     xcode-select --install
     

2. Check for Missing Header Files:

   • The error message mentioning 'memory' file not found typically indicates an issue with your C++ compiler settings or missing development headers. Ensure that standard C++ headers are correctly installed on your macOS.

3. Update Node.js and Dependencies:

   • Try downgrading to an LTS version of Node.js, as cutting-edge versions may not be fully supported by all packages yet. You can switch versions using nvm:

     nvm install 18
     nvm use 18
     

   • Alternatively, confirm compatibility of pprof with Node.js v20 or later.

4. Reinstall Dependencies:

   • Clear your node_modules and reinstall:

     rm -rf node_modules
     npm install
     

5. Manually Adjust Environment Variables:

   • For certain compilers and environments, you may have to set specific flags:

     export CXXFLAGS="-std=c++17"
     export CXX="clang++"
     

   • Ensure that you're using compatible versions of compilers that support C++17 or higher to include <memory>.

6. Pre-built Binaries or Alternate Sources:

   • Check if there are any updates or patches for pprof that provide pre-built binaries compatible with your Node.js version:

     npm update
     

   • Alternatively, search if there's a fork or variant of pprof that supports your platform and Node.js version.

7. Check for Known Issues:

   • Look for any open issues on the pprof GitHub repository that might provide solutions or workarounds:
     • pprof GitHub Issues

Advanced Steps

If none of the above steps work, you might need to debug further or contact the maintainers:

• Log Details: Enable verbose logging to get more insights:

  npm install --verbose
  

• Open a GitHub issue: If you suspect this might be a version-related bug and there's no existing issue, consider reporting it to the repository.

This combination of steps should help resolve the issue, or at least provide a clear path to identifying the root cause.