Why the express module is not installing in its default directory e.g., npm\node_modules?

Question

I'm trying to install express module using the following commands:

npm install --save express
npm install -g express
npm install -g express-generator

After installation I was expecting the module to be created inside nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\node_modules , Instead it is getting installed and created in somewhere else (In C:\\Users\\$SudoName\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules ).

Therefore while running the project node is unable to locate the express module in it's own directory where it suppose to be.

Answer 1

Let's explain your commands step by step:

$ npm install --save express

The --save command is used when you want to save a package for distribution. This command saves the package under your dependencies section of your package.json file.

$ npm install -g express

From the documentation : "In global mode (ie, with -g or --global appended to the command), it installs the current package context (ie, the current working directory) as a global package.".

In your case: C:\\Users\\$SudoName\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules

Note : You can see where your packages are installed using:

$ npm list -g

Finally,

$ npm install -g express-generator

gets the same approach. It gets installed under your global dependencies.