Syntax Error on eslint --init (ask questions about style) when package.json is malformed

On running eslint --init I get the following error. I’ve tried a few different choices and all result in the same problem. The init phase never succeeds.

$ ./node_modules/eslint/bin/eslint.js --init
? How would you like to configure ESLint? Answer questions about your style
? Are you using ECMAScript 6 features? Yes
? Are you using ES6 modules? Yes
? Where will your code run? Browser
? Do you use CommonJS? Yes
? Do you use JSX? Yes
? Do you use React Yes
? What style of indentation do you use? Spaces
? What quotes do you use for strings? Single
? What line endings do you use? Unix
? Do you require semicolons? Yes
? What format do you want your config file to be in? JavaScript
Unexpected token }
SyntaxError: Unexpected token }
    at Object.parse (native)
    at check (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/lib/util/npm-util.js:76:25)
    at Object.checkDevDeps (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/lib/util/npm-util.js:116:12)
    at installModules (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/lib/config/config-initializer.js:86:29)
    at processAnswers (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/lib/config/config-initializer.js:262:5)
    at null.completed (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/lib/config/config-initializer.js:469:30)
    at PromptUI.onCompletion (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/node_modules/inquirer/lib/ui/prompt.js:57:10)
    at AnonymousObserver.Rx.AnonymousObserver.AnonymousObserver.completed (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/node_modules/inquirer/node_modules/rx-lite/rx.lite.js:1550:12)
    at AnonymousObserver.Rx.internals.AbstractObserver.AbstractObserver.onCompleted (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/node_modules/inquirer/node_modules/rx-lite/rx.lite.js:1489:14)
    at Subject.Rx.Subject.addProperties.onCompleted (/home/peter/Projects/rikesh-accounting-web/node_modules/eslint/node_modules/inquirer/node_modules/rx-lite/rx.lite.js:5871:19)

What version of ESLint are you using?

$ ./node_modules/eslint/bin/eslint.js -v
v2.10.2

$ node -v
v4.4.5

What parser (default, Babel-ESLint, etc.) are you using?

n/a

Please show your full configuration:

n/a

What did you do? Please include the actual source code causing the issue.

See above.

What did you expect to happen?

To successfully create the .eslintrc

What actually happened? Please include the actual, raw output from ESLint.

Syntax Error

[kaicataldo]

Working on this!

[platinumazure]

I agree we should handle this better. Hope it’s okay if i reopen and retitle the issue. 😄