Problem with Python Firebase Functions deploy

[Weather Student]

I recently picked up some code that was working before on Firebase functions/Google Functions and I am unable to deploy the new version or even run the emulator. Initializing a new project also returns the same error.

127.0.0.1 - - [29/Nov/2023 03:02:46] "GET /__/quitquitquit HTTP/1.1" 200 -

/bin/sh: line 1: 30835 Terminated: 15          python3.11 "/dev/firebaseclass/functions/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/firebase_functions/private/serving.py"


Error: User code failed to load. Cannot determine backend specification

Any ideas on what I could be doing wring. I have stripped down the code similar to one in the sample and that too also raised the following error. I have upgraded firebase-tools to 12.9 running node v21.2.0 (npm v10.2.4). any pointers?