what does it mean to npm install -g

Question

Just a newbie question, I am trying to install the Less from Node.js platform. the command line is npm install -g less. I check the doc from here

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.

What does it mean global package ? thanks.

Answer 1

You are not required to install Less as global, the Less ReadMe instruction is: npm install less.

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Installing it local, means the module will be available only for a project you installed it (the directory you were in, when ran npm install).

Global install, instead puts the module into your Node.js path (OS dependent), and will be accessible from any project, without the need to install it separately for each.

See Diagram of Module look-up to understand how exactly modules are loaded when required by Node.js project.

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In the end, I suggest you install it as global, as less is highly popular module, and you will very likely need it more than once.