Unclear error message when no builder is configured

[mwaibel-go]

Command

build

Is this a regression?

• Yes, this behavior used to work in the previous version

The previous version in which this bug was not present was

No response

Description

When no builder is configured in angular.json, the provided error message is unhelpful in determining the issue.

It would be nice if the CLI detected that no builder was defined and reported that error.

Suggestion: “You have not specified a builder with which to compile the project. Please add one in 'angular.json' under the key 'projects.project.architect.target.builder'”

Minimal Reproduction

1. Create new project via ng new ang and accept the default options
2. cd ang
3. Open angular.json and remove the key projects.ang.architect.build.builder
4. ng build

Exception or Error

An unhandled exception occurred: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')
See "/tmp/ng-zswHbS/angular-errors.log" for further details.

The mentioned file contains

[error] TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')
    at WorkspaceNodeModulesArchitectHost.resolveBuilder (/home/mwaibel/tmp/ang/ang/node_modules/@angular-devkit/architect/node/node-modules-architect-host.js:114:55)
    at BuildCommandModule.getArchitectTargetOptions (/home/mwaibel/tmp/ang/ang/node_modules/@angular/cli/src/command-builder/architect-base-command-module.js:147:47)
    at async BuildCommandModule.builder (/home/mwaibel/tmp/ang/ang/node_modules/@angular/cli/src/command-builder/architect-command-module.js:53:31)
    at async runCommand (/home/mwaibel/tmp/ang/ang/node_modules/@angular/cli/src/command-builder/command-runner.js:73:5)
    at async default_1 (/home/mwaibel/tmp/ang/ang/node_modules/@angular/cli/lib/cli/index.js:70:16)

Your Environment

Tested in all of these:

Angular CLI: 17.3.11
Node: 18.20.4
Package Manager: npm 10.9.1
OS: linux x64

Angular: 17.3.12
... animations, common, compiler, compiler-cli, core, forms
... platform-browser, platform-browser-dynamic, router

Package                         Version
---------------------------------------------------------
@angular-devkit/architect       0.1703.11
@angular-devkit/build-angular   17.3.11
@angular-devkit/core            17.3.11
@angular-devkit/schematics      17.3.11
@angular/cli                    17.3.11
@schematics/angular             17.3.11
rxjs                            7.8.1
typescript                      5.4.5
zone.js                         0.14.10

Angular CLI: 18.2.12
Node: 18.20.4
Package Manager: npm 10.9.1
OS: linux x64

Angular: 18.2.13
... animations, common, compiler, compiler-cli, core, forms
... platform-browser, platform-browser-dynamic, router

Package                         Version
---------------------------------------------------------
@angular-devkit/architect       0.1802.12
@angular-devkit/build-angular   18.2.12
@angular-devkit/core            18.2.12
@angular-devkit/schematics      18.2.12
@angular/cli                    18.2.12
@schematics/angular             18.2.12
rxjs                            7.8.1
typescript                      5.4.5
zone.js                         0.14.10

Angular CLI: 19.0.6
Node: 18.20.4
Package Manager: npm 10.9.1
OS: linux x64

Angular: 19.0.5
... animations, common, compiler, compiler-cli, core, forms
... platform-browser, platform-browser-dynamic, router

Package                         Version
---------------------------------------------------------
@angular-devkit/architect       0.1900.6
@angular-devkit/build-angular   19.0.6
@angular-devkit/core            19.0.6 (cli-only)
@angular-devkit/schematics      19.0.6
@angular/cli                    19.0.6
@schematics/angular             19.0.6
rxjs                            7.8.1
typescript                      5.6.3
zone.js                         0.15.0

Anything else relevant?

no response