LibreChat-dev container fails to start

[bitzbyte]

What happened?

I LibreChat via Docker compose and for the past few weeks the api / LibreChat container will not start. The last image version that starts is ghcr.io/danny-avila/librechat-dev@sha256:d27883cb774d2a73de5fd3941b47d14c73caf7209a3cef185c6f79a959de5a74 from 6-2.

Version Information

sha256:d27883cb774d2a73de5fd3941b47d14c73caf7209a3cef185c6f79a959de5a74

Steps to Reproduce

Download any docker image newer than ghcr.io/danny-avila/librechat-dev@sha256:d27883cb774d2a73de5fd3941b47d14c73caf7209a3cef185c6f79a959de5a74

What browsers are you seeing the problem on?

No response

Relevant log output

LibreChat            | > [email protected] backend
LibreChat            | > cross-env NODE_ENV=production node api/server/index.js
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:672
LibreChat            |                         throw e;
LibreChat            |                         ^
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            |     at Object.mkdirSync (node:fs:1372:26)
LibreChat            |     at /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:669:24
LibreChat            |     at Array.reduce (<anonymous>)
LibreChat            |     at mkDirForFile (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:656:27)
LibreChat            |     at FileStreamRotator.getStream (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:532:5)
LibreChat            |     at new DailyRotateFile (/app/packages/data-schemas/node_modules/winston-daily-rotate-file/daily-rotate-file.js:81:57)
LibreChat            |     at Object.<anonymous> (/app/packages/data-schemas/dist/index.cjs:1310:5)
LibreChat            |     at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1529:14)
LibreChat            |     at Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1613:10)
LibreChat            |     at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1275:32) {
LibreChat            |   errno: -13,
LibreChat            |   code: 'EACCES',
LibreChat            |   syscall: 'mkdir',
LibreChat            |   path: '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            | }
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Node.js v20.19.2
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.8.2 -> 11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice To update run: npm install -g [email protected]
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | > [email protected] backend
LibreChat            | > cross-env NODE_ENV=production node api/server/index.js
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:672
LibreChat            |                         throw e;
LibreChat            |                         ^
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            |     at Object.mkdirSync (node:fs:1372:26)
LibreChat            |     at /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:669:24
LibreChat            |     at Array.reduce (<anonymous>)
LibreChat            |     at mkDirForFile (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:656:27)
LibreChat            |     at FileStreamRotator.getStream (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:532:5)
LibreChat            |     at new DailyRotateFile (/app/packages/data-schemas/node_modules/winston-daily-rotate-file/daily-rotate-file.js:81:57)
LibreChat            |     at Object.<anonymous> (/app/packages/data-schemas/dist/index.cjs:1310:5)
LibreChat            |     at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1529:14)
LibreChat            |     at Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1613:10)
LibreChat            |     at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1275:32) {
LibreChat            |   errno: -13,
LibreChat            |   code: 'EACCES',
LibreChat            |   syscall: 'mkdir',
LibreChat            |   path: '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            | }
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Node.js v20.19.2
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.8.2 -> 11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice To update run: npm install -g [email protected]
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | > [email protected] backend
LibreChat            | > cross-env NODE_ENV=production node api/server/index.js
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:672
LibreChat            |                         throw e;
LibreChat            |                         ^
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            |     at Object.mkdirSync (node:fs:1372:26)
LibreChat            |     at /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:669:24
LibreChat            |     at Array.reduce (<anonymous>)
LibreChat            |     at mkDirForFile (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:656:27)
LibreChat            |     at FileStreamRotator.getStream (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:532:5)
LibreChat            |     at new DailyRotateFile (/app/packages/data-schemas/node_modules/winston-daily-rotate-file/daily-rotate-file.js:81:57)
LibreChat            |     at Object.<anonymous> (/app/packages/data-schemas/dist/index.cjs:1310:5)
LibreChat            |     at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1529:14)
LibreChat            |     at Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1613:10)
LibreChat            |     at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1275:32) {
LibreChat            |   errno: -13,
LibreChat            |   code: 'EACCES',
LibreChat            |   syscall: 'mkdir',
LibreChat            |   path: '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            | }
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Node.js v20.19.2
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.8.2 -> 11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice To update run: npm install -g [email protected]
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | > [email protected] backend
LibreChat            | > cross-env NODE_ENV=production node api/server/index.js
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:672
LibreChat            |                         throw e;
LibreChat            |                         ^
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            |     at Object.mkdirSync (node:fs:1372:26)
LibreChat            |     at /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:669:24
LibreChat            |     at Array.reduce (<anonymous>)
LibreChat            |     at mkDirForFile (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:656:27)
LibreChat            |     at FileStreamRotator.getStream (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:532:5)
LibreChat            |     at new DailyRotateFile (/app/packages/data-schemas/node_modules/winston-daily-rotate-file/daily-rotate-file.js:81:57)
LibreChat            |     at Object.<anonymous> (/app/packages/data-schemas/dist/index.cjs:1310:5)
LibreChat            |     at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1529:14)
LibreChat            |     at Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1613:10)
LibreChat            |     at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1275:32) {
LibreChat            |   errno: -13,
LibreChat            |   code: 'EACCES',
LibreChat            |   syscall: 'mkdir',
LibreChat            |   path: '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            | }
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Node.js v20.19.2
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.8.2 -> 11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice To update run: npm install -g [email protected]
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | > [email protected] backend
LibreChat            | > cross-env NODE_ENV=production node api/server/index.js
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:672
LibreChat            |                         throw e;
LibreChat            |                         ^
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            |     at Object.mkdirSync (node:fs:1372:26)
LibreChat            |     at /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:669:24
LibreChat            |     at Array.reduce (<anonymous>)
LibreChat            |     at mkDirForFile (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:656:27)
LibreChat            |     at FileStreamRotator.getStream (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:532:5)
LibreChat            |     at new DailyRotateFile (/app/packages/data-schemas/node_modules/winston-daily-rotate-file/daily-rotate-file.js:81:57)
LibreChat            |     at Object.<anonymous> (/app/packages/data-schemas/dist/index.cjs:1310:5)
LibreChat            |     at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1529:14)
LibreChat            |     at Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1613:10)
LibreChat            |     at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1275:32) {
LibreChat            |   errno: -13,
LibreChat            |   code: 'EACCES',
LibreChat            |   syscall: 'mkdir',
LibreChat            |   path: '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            | }
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Node.js v20.19.2
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.8.2 -> 11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.4.2
LibreChat            | npm notice To update run: npm install -g [email protected]
LibreChat            | npm notice
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | > [email protected] backend
LibreChat            | > cross-env NODE_ENV=production node api/server/index.js
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:672
LibreChat            |                         throw e;
LibreChat            |                         ^
LibreChat            | 
LibreChat            | Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            |     at Object.mkdirSync (node:fs:1372:26)
LibreChat            |     at /app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:669:24
LibreChat            |     at Array.reduce (<anonymous>)
LibreChat            |     at mkDirForFile (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:656:27)
LibreChat            |     at FileStreamRotator.getStream (/app/node_modules/file-stream-rotator/FileStreamRotator.js:532:5)
LibreChat            |     at new DailyRotateFile (/app/packages/data-schemas/node_modules/winston-daily-rotate-file/daily-rotate-file.js:81:57)
LibreChat            |     at Object.<anonymous> (/app/packages/data-schemas/dist/index.cjs:1310:5)
LibreChat            |     at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1529:14)
LibreChat            |     at Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1613:10)
LibreChat            |     at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1275:32) {
LibreChat            |   errno: -13,
LibreChat            |   code: 'EACCES',
LibreChat            |   syscall: 'mkdir',
LibreChat            |   path: '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'
LibreChat            | }

Screenshots

No response

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[danny-avila]

In general, we do not recommend using the devcontainer as we don't actively maintain it. There are some open PRs addressing some of the issues (not yet merged since there's other issues with them):

For recommended development options, see:
https://www.librechat.ai/docs/development

[bitzbyte]

Appreciate the response. Agree, running Dev is most certainly living on the edge. Reported for awareness since it has persisted for awhile and I didn't see any other mention of it. 😊

[VictorMoni]

The error you're encountering is due to file system permission issues inside the container when LibreChat tries to create a log directory:

Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/packages/data-schemas/logs/'

✅ Root Cause

In newer versions of the LibreChat Docker image, the backend tries to write logs to /app/packages/data-schemas/logs/, but the directory either doesn't exist or the container user doesn’t have permission to create it.

This wasn't an issue in older builds, likely because:

Logging wasn't configured the same way.

Or the permissions were more permissive by default.

---

✅ Solution 1: Set Proper Volume Mount + Permissions

You can ensure that the log directory is created and has the correct permissions:

Step-by-step fix:

1. Create the log folder on your host machine:

mkdir -p ./librechat/logs
chmod -R 777 ./librechat/logs  # Liberal permissions to ensure no error

2. Mount it into the container in your docker-compose.yml:

services:
  librechat:
    image: ghcr.io/danny-avila/librechat-dev:latest
    volumes:
      - ./librechat/logs:/app/packages/data-schemas/logs
    ...

This ensures that the container has both a log directory and permission to write to it.

---

✅ Solution 2: Override the Container User (if needed)

If mounting the volume doesn’t fix it, you may need to run the container as root:

user: root

However, this is not recommended unless you trust the container and know what you’re doing. Prefer setting proper permissions instead.

---

✅ Optional: Temporary Downgrade

If you need an immediate workaround, stick to the last working image:

ghcr.io/danny-avila/librechat-dev@sha256:d27883cb774d2a73de5fd3941b47d14c73caf7209a3cef185c6f79a959de5a74

…but for long-term reliability, it’s better to fix the permission issue to remain compatible with updates.

---

✅ Bonus: Make it Resilient Across Updates

To ensure this doesn’t break again with future updates:

Check if logs path can be configured via env or config file (often possible with Winston).

If the project allows overriding logger config, point it to a writable path like /tmp/logs.