Help needed with npm global install on Ubuntu
I’m having trouble installing npm packages globally on my Ubuntu machine. When I run the command to install a package, I get an error message saying I don’t have permission to write.
I’ve tried using sudo npm install -g package-name, but it’s still not working. I thought using sudo would give me the necessary privileges to install globally.
Has anyone else run into this issue? What am I missing here? Is there a different way to set up npm for global installs on Ubuntu?
I’m fairly new to using Ubuntu and npm, so any help or explanations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your assistance!
I’ve dealt with this issue before, and it can be quite frustrating. The problem is usually related to npm’s default global installation directory. Instead of using sudo, which may create security problems, I’ve found a better approach by changing npm’s default directory.
First, create a new directory for your global packages by running mkdir ~/.npm-global. Then, configure npm to use this new directory with npm config set prefix ‘~/.npm-global’. After that, add export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH to your ~/.profile file and update your environment with source ~/.profile. This method allowed me to install global npm packages without needing sudo and helped avoid further permission issues. I hope this information helps resolve the problem.
I encountered a similar issue when I first started using npm on Ubuntu. Rather than messing with sudo or changing npm’s default directory, I found a simpler solution that worked well for me. Try using the ‘–prefix’ flag when installing packages globally. For example:
npm install -g package-name --prefix ~/.local
This installs the package in your home directory, avoiding permission issues. You’ll need to add ~/.local/bin to your PATH if it’s not already there. Just add this line to your .bashrc or .zshrc file:
export PATH=$PATH:~/.local/bin
After that, source your shell config file or restart your terminal. This approach has served me well, keeping my global npm installs clean and hassle-free without compromising system security.
yo, i had the same prob! try this: npm install -g package-name --no-optional
it skips optional dependencies n stuff. worked for me without sudo. if that dont help, mayb check ur node version? sometimes older versions can b funky with permissions. good luck!