NPM installing modules to application root

Question

I messed something up and I've done my best to fix it, but no luck.

Whenever I run 'npm install' on a new node project, it installs all of my dependencies to the root of the application instead of in /node_modules/ like you'd expect in a default application.

For example-

My package.json

{
  "name": "hello-world",
  "description": "hello world test app",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "private": true,
  "dependencies": {
    "express": "3.x"
  }
}

When I use 'npm install' I end up with this:

I've tried setting my PATH like in this solution: How to use package installed locally in node_modules?

but that didn't seem to do much. Help?

What does `/private/tmp/timothy/timothy_local_job_1367532952281_60137/.npmcfg` contain? Also, observe that you have the `cache` variable set in that directory. — adrianp, May 03 '13 at 13:23
I removed that stuff and the defaults took over. Everything works great! If you post that as an answer you've got my accept. What does the cache variable do? Should I take that out while I'm in there? — Thomas Patrick Horton, May 03 '13 at 13:27

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 14 '14 at 19:49

observe that you have the cache variable set in that directory

strict-ssl = false
userconfig = /private/tmp/timothy/timothy_local_job_1367532952281_60137/.npmcfg
cache = /Users/tomhorton/Documents/Repository/helpmestackoverflow
root = ./node_modules

That timothy stuff is from a module that I installed shortly before everything went haywire-

I removed that stuff and the defaults took over. Everything works great!

NPM installing modules to application root

1 Answers1