Cannot find module 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\WebCompiler1.12.394\node_modules\less\bin\lessc'

[Darkicorn]

Installed product versions

Visual Studio 2017
Visual Studio 2019
Web Compiler 1.12.394

Description

Every time I update Visual Studio 2017/2019, the Web Compiler extension stops working.

Steps to recreate

1. Update Visual Studio.

Current behavior

After an update, trying to use "Web Compiler" -> "Recompile file" in Solution Explorer gives an error of:

Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State
Error module.js:471
throw err;
^

Error: Cannot find module 'C:\Users\Andrew\AppData\Local\Temp\WebCompiler1.12.394\node_modules\less\bin\lessc'
at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:469:15)
at Function.Module._load (module.js:417:25)
at Module.runMain (module.js:604:10)
at run (bootstrap_node.js:390:7)
at startup (bootstrap_node.js:150:9)
at bootstrap_node.js:505:3 LHRPL E:\inetpub\wwwroot\LHRPL\LHRPL\css\LHRPL.less 0

Expected behavior

There should be no error: Web Compiler should still work.

Temporary remedy

1. Uninstall the Web Compiler extension.
2. Delete* the directory C:\Users\Andrew\AppData\Local\Temp\WebCompiler1.12.394
3. Install the Web Compiler extension.

* Adjust the username as required.

Corroborating evidence

The issue is also reported on Stack Overflow:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/62792048/less-in-web-compiler-for-visual-studio-2019-stopped-to-work

[Airn5475]

I keep getting this issue as well. Same steps work for me to correct it, but it doesn't last.

module.js:471
    throw err;
    ^

Error: Cannot find module 'C:\Users\ABauman\AppData\Local\Temp\WebCompiler1.12.394\node_modules\node-sass\bin\node-sass'
    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:469:15)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:417:25)
    at Module.runMain (module.js:604:10)
    at run (bootstrap_node.js:390:7)
    at startup (bootstrap_node.js:150:9)
    at bootstrap_node.js:505:3 C:\Repos\....\Content\scss\style.scss		

[mbuonaccorsi]

Has this ever been resolved? I get this problem often. Removing the WebCompiler extension, clearing those folders out of the temp folder and re-installing fixes it but that is just a workaround.