js2-refactor from melpa: Package `emacs-24.1' is unavailable

Question

I'm on GNU Emacs 24.3.50.1 (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 3.6.0), but when I try to use package (melpa) to install js2-refactor I get this odd error:

package-compute-transaction: Package `emacs-24.1' is unavailable

Any ideas what this could be about? Actually, this might be coming from a dependency of js2-refactor: js2-mode. It gives the same error.

Sea

Could it be the case that you have installed package.el for pre-24 Emacs versions? If you're using the built-in version, M-x locate-library RET package should show a path ending with lisp/emacs-lisp/package.elc. If not, getting rid of the file indicated could help. – Outing

@legoscia: That did it! I had an old version (from 2007 ver. 0.9) running in an old modes directory. Clearing it and restarting solved it. Thanks. – Sea

@Outing your advice solved my problem as well. Could you perhaps add it as an answer so it can be accepted+get a vote? – Boldfaced

Answer 1

The reason for this can be a lingering old version of package.el in your load path. package.el was officially included in GNU Emacs 24, and the downloadable file for earlier Emacs versions doesn't support dependencies on built-in packages (emacs-24.1 is considered a built-in package here).

Type M-x locate-library RET package to find where Emacs is getting its package.el from. The path it shows should end with lisp/emacs-lisp/package.elc. If it doesn't, try getting rid of the indicated file (or changing the load path so Emacs doesn't find it).

Outing

Can then the faulty package.el be unloaded or do you have to restart Emacs ? – Leadwort

Not sure. Loading the right file with M-x load-file might be enough, but there is only one way to find out. (Perhaps the old version set a variable to a value that won't work with the new one, etc.) – Outing

Answer 2

I solved a similar issue by uninstalling and reinstalling emacs (macOS/homewbrew).

Wildon