Installing and Uninstalling Global Packages with NPM

In this tutorial, we'll walk you through installing and uninstalling global packages using NPM (Node Package Manager). Global packages are essential when you need tools available across your entire system, such as linters, task runners, or other command-line utilities. This tutorial was originally created in 2016, and any important updates are included to keep the content current.

Step 1: Installing Global Packages

Global packages are installed across your entire system and can be accessed from any directory. To install a package globally, use the -g flag with the npm install command.

Example: Installing a Global Package

To install a package globally, run the following command:

npm install -g package-name

For instance, to install nodemon, a tool that automatically restarts your Node.js server when file changes are detected, use:

npm install -g nodemon

After installation, you can use nodemon from any terminal session.

Critical Update (2024): It is recommended to use npx instead of globally installing packages, as this avoids potential version conflicts and reduces the number of globally installed dependencies.

Step 2: Listing Installed Global Packages

To see a list of all the global packages installed on your system, you can use the npm list command with the -g flag:

npm list -g --depth=0

The --depth=0 option limits the output to only top-level packages, making it easier to see which packages are installed globally without listing all their dependencies.

Step 3: Uninstalling Global Packages

If you no longer need a global package, you can uninstall it to free up system resources and avoid clutter.

Example: Uninstalling a Global Package

To uninstall a global package, use the following command:

npm uninstall -g package-name

For example, if you want to uninstall nodemon, you would run:

npm uninstall -g nodemon

This command will remove nodemon from your global packages, and it will no longer be accessible from any directory.

Step 4: Understanding When to Use Global Packages

Global packages are ideal for command-line tools that you want to be able to use anywhere on your system. However, for libraries or dependencies specific to a project, it's better to install them locally within that project's directory. Installing packages locally ensures that different projects can use different versions of the same package without causing conflicts.

Tip: Use global installations sparingly to avoid version conflicts. If you need a package for a specific project, always install it locally using npm install package-name without the -g flag.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to install and uninstall global packages using NPM. Understanding how to use global packages can significantly enhance your workflow, especially when using command-line tools that are needed across multiple projects.

Remember that while global packages are useful, it's essential to manage them wisely to avoid version conflicts. Where possible, consider using npx or installing packages locally within each project to keep your environment clean and avoid dependency issues.