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npm config command

Last Updated : 23 Sep, 2024
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The npm config command is a powerful tool used to manage the configuration settings for the Node Package Manager (npm). These settings dictate how npm behaves and interacts with the various components of the Node.js ecosystem. Understanding how to use this command effectively can help streamline the development process and ensure that the npm environment is configured according to the needs.

Prerequisites

These are the following topics that we are going to discuss:

What is npm config?

The npm config command is part of npm's suite of commands that allows the management of configuration settings. These settings can affect how npm installs packages accesses the internet and handles other tasks. Configuration values can be set globally for the specific user or the particular project.

Common Uses of npm Config

  • Setting Proxy Settings: Useful for the working behind a corporate proxy.
  • Changing Registry URL: Allows to use a custom npm registry.
  • Setting Cache Location: Helps in managing disk usage.
  • Configuring Package Installation Behavior: Adjust settings like package-lock file creation.

Steps to View Current Configuration

To view the current npm configuration use the following command:

npm config list

This command displays a list of all the current configuration settings and their values. You can also use:

npm config get <key>

Example: Replace <key> with the specific configuration we want to check.

npm config get proxy

Steps to Set Configuration Values

To set a configuration value use the following command:

npm config set <key> <value>

Example: To set the proxy use we can use the following command.

npm config set proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080

We can also set configuration values globally or locally:

Global Setting:

npm config set <key> <value> -g

Local Setting:

npm config set <key> <value> --location=project

Steps to Delete Configuration Values

If we need to the remove a configuration value use:

npm config delete <key>

Example: To delete the proxy setting we can use following command.

npm config delete proxy

Configuring Environment Variables

The npm config command can also be used to the configure environment variables. For instance, to set the NODE_ENV variable:

npm config set NODE_ENV production

Use Case Scenarios

  • Corporate Environments: Configure npm to the work behind a company firewall.
  • Custom Registries: Point npm to the private registry for the internal packages.
  • Development vs. Production: Adjust settings based on the environment.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Incorrect Proxy Settings: Verify the proxy URL and port.
  • Registry URL Issues: Ensure the URL is correctly formatted.
  • Permission Errors: Run commands with the appropriate permissions or use sudo.

Conclusion

The npm config command is a versatile tool for the managing npm settings. By understanding how to view, set and delete configuration values we can tailor npm's behavior to fit the development needs. Whether we're working behind a proxy using the custom registry or just fine-tuning your setup mastering npm config will help streamline the workflow.


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