When should i use npm with “-g” flag and why?

Question

I\'ve started using npm for js package management recently. Although I do have a fair understanding of package management in different enivronments(lets say using apt, rvm/g

Answer 1

While the accepted answer is correct, be aware that there is also npx which allows to conveniently run local tools.

For more information, see https://blog.npmjs.org/post/162869356040/introducing-npx-an-npm-package-runner

Answer 2

-g is the global install flag, as explained in this answer. It's covered in detail in this node blog post.

The rules of thumb:

• Install globally if the package provides command-line tools
• Install locally if you're using the package as part of your application
• Install globally and locally if both use-cases apply