HomeBridge Plugin Install Error Fix

HomeBridge is up and running on my Mac mini (macOS reported as “Tahoe 26.1”), but every time I try to add a new plugin the install process halts with

Error: Operation failed with code 1

The failure happens during plugin installation—before HomeBridge ever restarts—so nothing new shows up in the HomeKit app (all previous accessories have already been removed, leaving only the HomeBridge bridge tile).

I need a fresh set of eyes on my terminal configuration: Node/NPM versions, permissions, lingering cache files, or anything else that could be tripping this return code. A successful outcome means we can run npm install <plugin-name> (or through the HomeBridge UI) without that code 1, then confirm the plugin loads and exposes its accessories back to HomeKit.

Deliverables
• Diagnose and document the exact cause of code 1 during plugin installation
• Apply or outline the fix (permissions, dependencies, config edits, etc.)
• Show the plugin installing cleanly and visible in HomeKit again

If you know your way around HomeBridge, Node, and macOS terminal quirks, this should be a concise troubleshooting session.