[BUG] npm install silently fails to create symlinks for workspaces when "main" is added in parent package.json

[vorillaz]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

When I am trying to bootstrap a project with workspaces and main is present the installation fails to symlink the workspaces.

Expected Behavior

Symlinking the workspaces or showing a warning message.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Create a project with npm init -y, main should be present inside the parent package.json
2. Add one or more workspaces
3. Run npm install
4. Workspaces are not properly symlinked, no error or warning is thrown.

Example structure:

+-- package.json
`-- workspace-a
   `-- package.json

Example parent package.json :

{
  "name": "my-workspaces-powered-project",
  "main": "index.js",
  "workspaces": [
    "workspace-a"
  ],
  "devDependencies": {
    "typescript": "4.3.5",
    "@types/node": "16.7.5",
  }
}

Environment

• npm: 8.0.0
• Node: v16.11.1
• OS: MacOS
• npm config:

; "builtin" config from /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/npm/npmrc

prefix = "/opt/homebrew"

; node bin location = /opt/homebrew/Cellar/node/16.11.1/bin/node
; cwd = /Users/vorillaz
; HOME = /Users/vorillaz
; Run `npm config ls -l` to show all defaults.

[ruyadorno]

@vorillaz can you try replicating this problem on the latest version of npm? currently npm@8.3.2