How to Fix the Process or Namespace BackendAPI not found Error in GitHub Actions When Using PM2

---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Pm2 Process or Namespace BackendAPI not found github actions?

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Fix the Process or Namespace BackendAPI not found Error in GitHub Actions When Using PM2

As developers integrating GitHub Actions into our workflow, we might encounter various hiccups along the way. One frustrating error is:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This message can leave you puzzled, especially when your application is running smoothly in other environments. In this guide, we’ll dive into why this error occurs and how to resolve it efficiently.

Understanding the Problem

Error Context: GitHub Actions is trying to restart a process identified as BackendAPI using PM2, but it fails to find it.

Common Occurrences: This happens when the PM2 process is either:

Not correctly started

Incorrectly named in the restart command

Lacking the necessary permissions to execute the command

How to Resolve the Issue

1. Ensure PM2 Process is Running

Before you can restart a PM2 process, it must already be running. You can check the current list of PM2 processes by SSHing into your EC2 instance and running:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

If BackendAPI isn’t listed, ensure it’s started properly before attempting a restart.

2. Verify Process Name

Double-check the name used in your command. The process name is case-sensitive and must exactly match what you see in the PM2 list. If it's not named BackendAPI, update your GitHub Actions file with the correct name.

3. Add sudo to Your Command

A very common oversight is not including the necessary permissions to run PM2 commands on your server. You can resolve this by prefixing your restart command with sudo. Update your GitHub Actions step as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Using sudo ensures that the command executes with the required permissions to manage the PM2 process.

4. Update Environment Variables

If there are any environment variables that your PM2 process depends upon, you might need to explicitly update them with the --update-env flag as indicated in the error message.

Modify your command accordingly:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By taking the time to troubleshoot and resolve these types of issues, you not only improve your application’s reliability but also enrich your development knowledge for future projects.

If you have any questions or further insights on resolving GitHub Actions problems with PM2, feel free to comment below!