[BUG] npm shows spinner while waiting for password

[jeffrson]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• [X] I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• [X] I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

Since version 10.7, when the "spinner" was introduced (I dislike it for various reasons, ugly flickering a.s.o., but wont discuss it here further since it's not related), the password prompt of npm login is misleading. Instead of waiting behind "Password:" it shows the spinner, indicating some "progress" that does not happen. Instead it's actually waiting for the password which has to be typed or inserted while according to the spinner npm seems busy. It appears as if the password prompt is skipped.

Expected Behavior

Clearly indicate that npm is waiting for the password to be entered.

Steps To Reproduce

Simply execute npm login, type some username. Enjoy :-/

Environment

• npm: 10.8.1
• Node.js: 20.14.0

[mcandre]

ux stands to be improved by not having a spinner at all

[mbtools]

The spinner is misleading and has led to plenty of confusion (example: https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/issues/4897). Entering user, password, and email are input prompts requiring nothing but a blinking cursor. 🤷

PS: It might be a node problem since this is coming from here.

[s-h-a-d-o-w]

While the spinner made me assume that something is broken, it's also weird that the email address isn't shown, even though it is public.

[OrRosenblatt]

Same issue... I've been waiting for 5minutes, thinking something would happen bc of the spinner. After finding this issue I simply pasted my password into the terminal and clicked "Enter" and was logged in.

[ZhangMingZhao1]

Who made such a bad design? And it hasn't been fixed in so long.

[embostan]

Still not fixed...

[bfontaine]

Tip: commenting "Still not fixed" doesn’t help to fix it. See here to understand what’s going on.

[webdevelopers-eu]

I concur! We just spent 10 minutes thinking it was probably trying to open a web browser for authorization in the background... The spinning icon clearly indicated that something was happening. It never occurred to us that system is idle and waiting for input - that we could type after the spinning wheel, especially since there was no indication of typed characters either.

Honestly, this has become one of the worst UI ideas I've ever encountered.

[mbtools]

The fix is in the queue but unfortunately not a priority. Requires a change in a related package.

https://github.com/npm/cli/pull/8322

[shahmhussain]

I spent 10 minutes googling around this, I'm lucky I came across this, please fix it really is a silly bug.

[mcandre]

Removing the spinner altogether would really help. Expected to be a small code change.

npm has a history of getting too fancy with console output, such as applying colors and other inappropriate sequences in non-tty contexts, creating all sorts of glitches.

[ShahryarAhmed]

Still an issue. when I log in, even typing with the password the spinner is still persistent and I don’t get anything after that. Any fix?

[mbtools]

See #8322