build-spec Error parsing spec file: expected value at line 1 column 1

Question

I am following the Substrate Developer Hub tutorial in here: https://substrate.dev/docs/en/tutorials/start-a-private-network/customspec

I have successfully executed the command: ./target/release/node-template build-spec --disable-default-bootnode --chain local > customSpec.json

But when I try to parse this last file using this command: ./target/release/node-template build-spec --chain=customSpec.json --raw --disable-default-bootnode > customSpecRaw.json

I got the following error: Error: Input("Error parsing spec file: expected value at line 1 column 1")

The contents of the customSpec.json are:

{
  "name": "Local Testnet",
  "id": "local_testnet",
  "chainType": "Local",
  "bootNodes": [],
  "telemetryEndpoints": null,
  "protocolId": null,
  "properties": null,
  "consensusEngine": null,
  "lightSyncState": null,
  "genesis": {
    "runtime": {
      "frameSystem":
...
...
"palletSudo": {
        "key": "5GrwvaEF5zXb26Fz9rcQpDWS57CtERHpNehXCPcNoHGKutQY"
      }
    }
  }
}

I am attempting the Hello World Hackathon by Polkadot. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I was having this problem on when I was building the chain spec using Windows Powershell. But I used the regular Windows Console and it worked fine.