pb-mathjax readme directions should be updated

[beckej13820]

I spent some time today trying to install pb-mathjax using the installation instructions from the Readme file. I was doing the "single server" version where you set up a microservice on your existing pressbooks server.

NodeJS 10 has reached its end of life, and while you can still download it, the install script included will fail because dependencies used during installation have also reached end of life.

[beckej13820]

The installation also fails with NodeJS 16 LTS and NodeJS 14LTS which are the oldest LTS version of NodeJS still in security support.

Installation still works with NodeJS 12, but that is probably not recommended because it has reached end of life.

[beckej13820]

here is the error message I got from the "npm install" step when using NodeJS 14

gyp ERR! build error
gyp ERR! stack Error: make failed with exit code: 2
gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.onExit (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/build.js:194:23)
gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:400:28)
gyp ERR! stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:285:12)
gyp ERR! System Linux 3.10.0
gyp ERR! command "/usr/bin/node" "/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "rebuild"
gyp ERR! cwd /home/jelastic/pb-mathjax-master/node_modules/sharp
gyp ERR! node -v v14.19.3
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v5.1.0
gyp ERR! not ok
npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! sharp@0.22.1 install: (node install/libvips && node install/dll-copy && prebuild-install) || (node-gyp rebuild && node install/dll-copy)
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the sharp@0.22.1 install script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR! /root/.npm/_logs/2022-06-15T17_59_42_154Z-debug.log

[beckej13820]

What does the "cool down" label mean?

[SteelWagstaff]

Hi Ed -- it means that this is considered a good issue for one of our 'cool down' sprints, where developers can pick any issue from the backlog that interests them for improvement instead of focusing on a specific sprint goal directed by the product owner and accepted by the scrum team.

[beckej13820]

Thanks! I was worried it meant, "This aspect of pressbooks is no longer going to be supported for open-source users" and then died a little bit inside while I wondered what was going on for 24 days!

[SteelWagstaff]

Sorry about leaving you hanging like that -- I didn't see your comment until yesterday (got lost in the general firehose of information). We do want to update install instructions and NPM version support for this repo when we have a chance.

[beckej13820]

Don't be sorry! It's not your job to responsibly handle my anxiety! :-D