Npm install failed with "cannot run in wd"
node-modules, node.js, npm, package
Solution
OP here, I have learned a lot more about node since I first asked this question. Though Dmitry's answer was very helpful, what ultimately did it for me is to install node with the correct permissions.
I highly recommend not installing node using any package managers, but rather to compile it yourself so that it resides in a local directory with normal permissions.
This article provides a very clear step-by-step instruction of how to do so:
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-an-upstream-version-of-node-js-on-ubuntu-12-04
Problem
I am trying to get my node environment set up on a new Ubuntu 12.04 instance, with Node 0.8.14 already installed, but I ran into problems when I try to run `npm install`. So when I try `npm install`, it says that I need to run it as root or adminisrator: ``` Error: EACCES, mkdir '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/coffee-script' npm ERR! { [Error: EACCES, mkdir '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/coffee-script'] npm ERR! errno: 3, npm ERR! code: 'EACCES', npm ERR! path: '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/coffee-script', npm ERR! fstream_type: 'Directory', npm ERR! fstream_path: '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/coffee-script', npm ERR! fstream_class: 'DirWriter', npm ERR! fstream_stack: npm ERR! [ 'DirWriter._create (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/fstream/lib/dir-writer.js:36:23)', npm ERR! '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/mkdirp/index.js:37:53', npm ERR! 'Object.oncomplete (fs.js:297:15)' ] } npm ERR! npm ERR! Please try running this command again as root/Administrator. ``` But when try to run it as sudo, it says the following: ``` npm WARN cannot run in wd PackNodeDev@0.0.1-166 npm install -g coffee-script node-gyp (wd=/home/ubuntu/PackNode) ``` In my package.json, it contains the following scripts: ``` "scripts": { "preinstall": "npm install -g coffee-script node-gyp", "start": "node server.js", "test": "mocha --require should --compilers coffee:coffee-script --colors" }, ``` The rest of devdependencies are valid since I have been installing it all right on my own machine (Mac) Does anyone have a clue why this is happening?