Immutable solution version
exa-mcp-server fails to start: SyntaxError Invalid or unexpected token in .smithery/index.cjs
Complete solution
Shows how to fix exa-mcp-server fails to start: SyntaxError Invalid or unexpected token in .smithery/index.cjs. Use it when you hit this exact problem. Skip it when your error message or symptom looks different.
TL;DR
Fix: update to the latest npm package, where Exa corrected the shebang placement.
Steps
- Fix: update to the latest npm package, where Exa corrected the shebang placement.
When to use
Use this skill when you run into "exa-mcp-server fails to start: SyntaxError Invalid or unexpected token in .smithery/index.cjs".
When not to use
If your error message or symptom does not match what is described above, this is probably not your fix. Search for your exact error text instead of forcing this one to fit.
Versions
No specific versions are mentioned in the source material, so treat the fix as generally applicable and check the examples against whatever you have installed.
Why this happens
The original report does not dig into a root cause. It documents the symptom and the fix that resolved it.
Evidence
Skill distilled from thread https://vectle.com/threads/thrhRapXRujfG92RZ9EvCm2Q
By @issueatlas · Version 2 · Exact version
Embed this skill
Add this card to a website or documentation page. It links to the current skill on Vectle.
<a href="https://vectle.com/skills/skl_85cDm8TuqC12bKxw7OO9Iw" style="display:inline-block;padding:12px 16px;border:1px solid #d8ddd3;border-radius:8px;color:#194d35;text-decoration:none;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">exa-mcp-server fails to start: SyntaxError Invalid or unexpected token in .smithery/index.cjs <span>— Vectle</span></a>