Implications and Potential Solutions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 35 views

Introduction

Turbopack is a fast and efficient bundler for Next.js applications, designed to replace Webpack. However, when importing SCSS files outside of the root directory, Turbopack throws an unexpected error. In this article, we will explore this issue, its implications, and potential solutions.

The Problem

When using Turbopack with Next.js, importing SCSS files outside of the root directory results in an error. This inconsistency between Turbopack and Webpack can lead to confusion and make it challenging to manage styles in larger projects.

Reproducing the Issue

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Clone the reproduction repository.
Navigate to the project directory using cd project.
Install dependencies using pnpm i.
Run pnpm next dev --turbo to start the development server.
Open localhost:3000 in your browser.

You will see the following error in your browser:

and in your terminal:

Current vs. Expected Behavior

On Webpack, the styles.scss file, which is outside the project folder, is imported correctly. However, on Turbopack, this results in the following error:

"Error: An unexpected Turbopack error occurred. Please see the output of next dev for more details."

This error message is not informative, and the suggested solution to check the output of next dev does not provide any additional information.

Implications and Potential Solutions

The inconsistency between Turbopack and Webpack can lead to the following issues:

Inconsistency in behavior: Turbopack and Webpack behave differently when importing SCSS files outside of the root directory. This can make it challenging to manage styles in larger projects.
Lack of informative error messages: The error message provided by Turbopack is not informative, making it difficult to diagnose and resolve the issue.
Inadequate documentation: The documentation for Turbopack does not provide clear guidance on how to handle SCSS imports outside of the root directory.

To resolve this issue, you can try the following solutions:

Use a relative path: Instead of importing the SCSS file using an absolute path, use a relative path to the file. For example, @import '../styles.scss';.
Use a custom resolver: You can create a custom resolver to handle SCSS imports outside of the root directory. This can be achieved by creating a custom resolve function in your next.config.js file.
Use a different bundler: If you are experiencing issues with Turbopack, you can try using a different bundler, such as Webpack.

Environment Information

The following environment information is relevant to this issue:

Operating System: Darwin 24.3.0
Node: 22.13.1
npm: 10.9.2
Yarn: 1.22.22
pnpm: 9.15.5
Next.js: 15.2.2-canary.6
React: 19.0.0
ReactDOM: 19.0.0
TypeScript: 5.7.3

Conclusion

Q: What is the issue with Turbopack and SCSS imports outside of the root directory?

A: The issue is that Turbopack throws an unexpected error when importing SCSS files outside of the root directory. This inconsistency between Turbopack and Webpack can lead to confusion and make it challenging to manage styles in larger projects.

Q: Why is this issue a problem?

A: This issue is a problem because it can lead to inconsistencies in behavior and inadequate error messages. When importing SCSS files outside of the root directory, Turbopack throws an error that is not informative, making it difficult to diagnose and resolve the issue.

Q: What are the implications of this issue?

A: The implications of this issue are:

Inconsistency in behavior: Turbopack and Webpack behave differently when importing SCSS files outside of the root directory. This can make it challenging to manage styles in larger projects.
Lack of informative error messages: The error message provided by Turbopack is not informative, making it difficult to diagnose and resolve the issue.
Inadequate documentation: The documentation for Turbopack does not provide clear guidance on how to handle SCSS imports outside of the root directory.

Q: How can I reproduce this issue?

A: To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Clone the reproduction repository.
Navigate to the project directory using cd project.
Install dependencies using pnpm i.
Run pnpm next dev --turbo to start the development server.
Open localhost:3000 in your browser.

You will see the following error in your browser:

and in your terminal:

Q: What are the potential solutions to this issue?

A: The potential solutions to this issue are:

Use a relative path: Instead of importing the SCSS file using an absolute path, use a relative path to the file. For example, @import '../styles.scss';.
Use a custom resolver: You can create a custom resolver to handle SCSS imports outside of the root directory. This can be achieved by creating a custom resolve function in your next.config.js file.
Use a different bundler: If you are experiencing issues with Turbopack, you can try using a different bundler, such as Webpack.

Q: What environment information is relevant to this issue?

A: The following environment information is relevant to this issue:

Operating System: Darwin 24.3.0
Node: 22.13.1
npm: 10.9.2
Yarn: 1.22.22
pnpm: 9.15.5
Next.js: 15.2.2-canary.6
React: 19.0.0
ReactDOM: 19.0.0
TypeScript: 5.7.3

Q: How can I get help with this issue?

A: If you are experiencing issues with Turbopack and SCSS imports outside of the root directory, you can try the following:

Check the Turbopack documentation: The Turbopack documentation provides information on how to handle SCSS imports outside of the root directory.
Search for solutions online: You can search for solutions online, such as on GitHub or Stack Overflow.
Reach out to the Turbopack community: You can reach out to the Turbopack community for help and support.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of Turbopack throwing an error when importing SCSS files outside of the root directory is a significant problem that can lead to inconsistencies in behavior and inadequate error messages. By understanding the implications of this issue and exploring potential solutions, developers can better manage styles in their Next.js applications.