Manage npm Global Packages

This post is about how can we install, update, uninstall and list out installed global packages of NPM.

The commands that start with $ are meant to be run in the terminal or command line. The output of the command will follow immediately. Comments will begin with #.

Install Global Packages

$ npm install -g <package>

For example, to install express globally, type

$ npm install -g express
+ express@4.16.3
added 50 packages from 47 contributors in 10.433s

Update Global Packages

$ npm update -g <package>

For example, to update express globally type

$ npm update -g express

To find out which packages need to be updated, type

$ npm outdated -g --depth=0
Package  Current  Wanted  Latest  Location
nodemon   1.18.2  1.18.3  1.18.3
npm        6.1.0   6.2.0   6.2.0

To update all global packages, type

$ npm update -g

List All Installed Global Packages

$ npm list -g --depth 0
/home/rimonmostafiz/.nvm/versions/node/v10.6.0/lib
├── express@4.16.3
├── nodemon@1.18.2
└── npm@6.1.0

list -g: display a tree of every package found in the user’s folder(without the -g option it only shows the cureent directory’s packages)
--depth 0 OR --depth=0: to avoid including every package’s dependencies in the tree view

Uninstall Global Packages

$ npm uninstall -g <package>

For example, uninstall express globally

$ npm uninstall -g express
removed 50 packages in 0.289s