If you're pressed for time and don't have the luxury to delve into the reasons behind this issue, feel free to skip ahead to the "How to resolve it (an elegant way)?" section below (located at the end). I present a swift, effective, and tidy solution!

What is the problem?

The crux of the matter lies in a missing dependency, whether it's a JavaScript module, file, font file, or another asset.

A clear error message appears after cleaning and recompiling!
The subsequent problem emerges, leading to the error!

https://i.stack.imgur.com/JFIc9.png

https://i.stack.imgur.com/9BS90.png

https://i.stack.imgur.com/nU0gd.png

Following this sequence, the error manifests, often indicating a missing font, as was the case for me.

But why are we encountering this error?

A broken symlink residing in the home directory is scrutinized during the execution of react-scripts start. Since this symlink is faulty, an is no file or directory error ensues.

In our scenario, the problematic symlink was .steampath. Further details can be found in the subsequent section ("what is steampath").

To further validate and add amusement, I intentionally created a broken symlink named after myself, following alphabetical order, which takes precedence in processing!

https://i.stack.imgur.com/WHKaN.png

https://i.stack.imgur.com/w2Cuc.png

https://i.stack.imgur.com/4cso6.png

Indeed, here we have .allalBrokenLink instead of .steampath. While one quick fix would involve removing the broken symlink, it may not be the ideal solution since .steampath serves a purpose—especially if you are utilizing the Steam game platform. However, eliminating the file is safe if you aren't using Steam.

Alternatively, the resolution is straightforward and efficient! Simply run a Javascript debug terminal and set a breakpoint where the error occurs. This method allows the debugger to pause automatically, enabling easy identification and rectification of the issue. Refer to the "How to resolve it (an elegant way)?" section for detailed guidance!

Why was the home directory inspected?

Contrary to popular belief, the scrutiny of the home directory isn't attributed to the Node.js module resolution algorithm. The algorithm proceeds by tracing back up the file system root each time it encounters a module and checks against the node_modules folder. Hence, it wouldn't scan through all files in a directory, thereby avoiding the broken symlink predicament caused by thorough iteration. For more insights, explore the links provided in reference.

Additionally, Node.js will search in the following list of GLOBAL_FOLDERS:
1: $HOME/.node_modules
2: $HOME/.node_libraries
3: $PREFIX/lib/node

You can visualize this traversal process during debugging:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/U5RHJ.png

This backward movement is evidently outlined. Accessing paths while debugging offers a clearer perspective on the traversal.

For practical confirmation, you can inspect module.paths as depicted below:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/4yBGr.png

Through a simple test project, importing a random name will trigger a clean not found module error. This testing environment aligns with the setting where the error surfaced initially.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/vD7gR.png

Furthermore, you can check the nature of the error.

Given that we've yet to address the immediate problem, what exactly is it?

Analogous to Babel's behavior, certain tools like webpack and react-scripts exhibit a similar pattern. They seek specific configurations or dependencies within a defined scope rather than exhaustive inspection. In essence, any framework or plugin focusing on specific elements will target those precisely without needlessly scanning other areas. Consequently, the core issue likely centers around loader or plugin intricacies. While manual debugging may yield some clues, automated detection through chrome devtools protocol could expedite the resolution. Stay tuned for updates in this regard!

What is steampath

Steampath refers to a file generated by the Steam gaming platform.

This peculiar Steam-related symlink is deliberately broken to maintain compatibility with older Steamworks SDK versions still employed by some games.

Source: https://github.com/anyc/steam-overlay/issues/206

It's essential to note that Steam creates a symlink named .steampath pointing to an inexistent location every time it runs. Although seemingly faulty, this intentional discrepancy caters to legacy steamworks requirements, elaborated upon in ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#5245.

(~/.steam/sdk32/anything is what is needed)

Hence, if you're a Steam user, refraining from tampering with this file is advisable.

How to resolve it (an elegant way)?

If you're unsure about next steps, opt for the "find in folder" feature within your IDE and look for occurrences of "Failed to compile", a phrase etched in memory after encountering such errors. Prioritize the second matching result upon locating it.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/OjuWD.png

As an alternative approach, utilize the file search palette (CTRL + P) to swiftly zero in on devServerUtils.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/j6bVE.png

Furthermore, conduct an internal search within the file itself to expedite the troubleshooting process.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/vki6M.png

This streamlined method can enhance efficiency.

Following this, configure breakpoints as indicated in the ensuing image.

Initiate a debugger terminal post-setting these breakpoints.

Emphasize the importance of retaining breakpoints solely at the return statement.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/v8foj.png

Commence a JavaScript debug terminal utilizing the guidelines below.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/7YdV3.png

Execute npm start within this debugger terminal.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/z8xBK.png

The program will halt automatically at the designated breakpoint, facilitating a simplified examination of the underlying issue.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/KaS5M.png

Once this process is executed, future access to the JavaScript debug terminal will retain the breakpoint for subsequent use, ensuring seamless application whenever required, even without prior knowledge.

If navigating the debugger remains unfamiliar territory and necessitates further clarification...

Explore resources on debugger auto attach for nodeJS processes and the JavaScript debug terminal here.

Furthermore, delve deeper into general debugging practices here.

The reason behind my issue was a missing package in my package.json file.

Running yarn start or npm run start did not help me identify the missing package. To pinpoint the missing one, I suggest trying to run the build command (yarn build). The build process will terminate with error details displayed as shown below:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/cCyy5.png

As depicted in the screenshot above, the problem lied in a missing package (specifically, react-dnd-html5-backend in my scenario).

The root of this problem stems from certain essential dependencies that were overlooked in the development process. These missing dependencies were not documented in the package.json, yet they were crucial for the project's functionality. The error message flashes briefly on the console before disappearing, prompting me to capture my screen and play it back in slow motion to identify the missing components and install them accordingly.

My project encountered an error due to a required package not being present. Specifically, I was missing @reduxjs/toolkit.

Make sure to restart your development server after reverting node-sass back to version 4.

Don't forget to double-check your imports! I recently encountered an issue while using VS Code where I mistakenly imported from 'react-router' instead of 'react-router-dom'. Here's what happened:

import {useHistory} from 'react-router-dom'

// Instead of the correct import above, I accidentally used:
import {useHistory} from 'react-router'

After examining the log, it was discovered that npm inadvertently cleared the screen, causing all the information to be lost.

npm start > log.txt

For me, running yarn install before starting yarn start made a significant difference.