npm install doesn't save dependency to package.json

Question

It does add only when I execute: npm install <package_name> --save

In the documentation though: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install is written this:

By default, npm install will install all modules listed as dependencies in package.json.

Which is misleading.

Answer 1

npm install without arguments installs all dependencies (and dev dependencies) listed in the package.json file.

npm install --production installs all the dependencies (but no dev dependency)

npm install <package> installs a package and its dependencies.

npm install <package> --save installs a package and its dependencies, and adds it in the package.json file.

Edit: Since npm 5, --save is implied.

Answer 2

No, it's not. I think you are misreading the sentence.

npm install without any package name (as in your quote) will install all dependencies mentioned in the package.json.

Answer 3

Crete package.json file in your application folder.

Exp:- var/www/html/node/rest/package.json

{ "name": "node-api", "main": "server.js", "version": "0.0.1", "dependencies": { "express": "~4.0.0", "mongoose": "~3.6.13", "body-parser": "~1.0.1", "mysql": "^2.5.4" } }

Then run npm install command your application folder

Exp:- var/www/html/node/rest npm install

Answer 4

你可以再次运行npm init来更新依赖信息。