npm-link(1) -- Symlink a package folder ======================================= ## SYNOPSIS npm link (in package folder) npm link ## DESCRIPTION Package linking is a two-step process. First, `npm link` in a package folder will create a globally-installed symbolic link from `prefix/package-name` to the current folder. Next, in some other location, `npm link package-name` will create a symlink from the local `node_modules` folder to the global symlink. When creating tarballs for `npm publish`, the linked packages are "snapshotted" to their current state by resolving the symbolic links. This is handy for installing your own stuff, so that you can work on it and test it iteratively without having to continually rebuild. For example: cd ~/projects/node-redis # go into the package directory npm link # creates global link cd ~/projects/node-bloggy # go into some other package directory. npm link redis # link-install the package Now, any changes to ~/projects/node-redis will be reflected in ~/projects/node-bloggy/node_modules/redis/ You may also shortcut the two steps in one. For example, to do the above use-case in a shorter way: cd ~/projects/node-bloggy # go into the dir of your main project npm link ../node-redis # link the dir of your dependency The second line is the equivalent of doing: (cd ../node-redis; npm link) npm link redis That is, it first creates a global link, and then links the global installation target into your project's `node_modules` folder.