[node.js] How do I install a module globally using npm?

I recently installed Node.js and npm module on OSX and have a problem with the settings I think:

npm install [MODULE] is not installing the node.js module to the default path 
which is /usr/local/lib/node_modules.

In Ubuntu, set path of node_modules in .bashrc file

export PATH="/home/username/node_modules/.bin:$PATH"

I had issues installing Express on Ubuntu:

If for some reason NPM command is missing, test npm command with npm help. If not there, follow these steps - http://arnolog.net/post/8424207595/installing-node-js-npm-express-mongoose-on-ubuntu

If just the Express command is not working, try:

sudo npm install -g express

This made everything work as I'm used to with Windows7 and OSX.

Hope this helps!

You need to have superuser privileges,

 sudo npm install -g <package name>

You might not have write permissions to install a node module in the global location such as /usr/local/lib/node_modules, in which case run npm install -g package as root.

On a Mac, I found the output contained the information I was looking for:

$> npm install -g karma
...
...
> [email protected] install /usr/local/share/npm/lib/node_modules/karma/node_modules/socket.io/node_modules/socket.io-client/node_modules/ws
> (node-gyp rebuild 2> builderror.log) || (exit 0)
...
$> ls /usr/local/share/npm/bin
karma nf

After adding /usr/local/share/npm/bin to the export PATH line in my .bash_profile, saving it, and sourceing it, I was able to run

$> karma --help

normally.

I like using a package.json file in the root of your app folder.

Here is one I use

nvm use v0.6.4

http://pastie.org/3232212

npm install