[BUG] "could not create leading directories" when installing globally from GitHub URL

[richRemer]

What / Why

npm: v5.8.0, v6.13.4

When I attempt to install a package from GitHub globally, I am getting a permission error: "could not create leading directories".

$ sudo -H npm install -g git+https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git
npm ERR! code 128
npm ERR! Command failed: /usr/bin/git clone -q https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git /root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f
npm ERR! fatal: could not create leading directories of '/root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f': Permission denied
npm ERR! 

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR!     /root/.npm/_logs/2019-12-29T20_06_58_093Z-debug.log

The relevant log bits:

12 silly fetchPackageMetaData error for git+https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git Command failed: /usr/bin/git clone -q https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git /root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f
12 silly fetchPackageMetaData fatal: could not create leading directories of '/root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f': Permission denied
13 verbose stack Error: Command failed: /usr/bin/git clone -q https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git /root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f
13 verbose stack fatal: could not create leading directories of '/root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f': Permission denied
13 verbose stack
13 verbose stack     at ChildProcess.exithandler (child_process.js:294:12)
13 verbose stack     at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:189:13)
13 verbose stack     at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:970:16)
13 verbose stack     at Socket.stream.socket.on (internal/child_process.js:389:11)
13 verbose stack     at Socket.emit (events.js:189:13)
13 verbose stack     at Pipe._handle.close (net.js:600:12)
14 verbose cwd /home/rremer
15 verbose Linux 5.3.0-24-generic
16 verbose argv "/usr/bin/node" "/usr/bin/npm" "install" "-g" "git+https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git"
17 verbose node v10.15.2
18 verbose npm  v5.8.0
19 error code 128
20 error Command failed: /usr/bin/git clone -q https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git /root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f
20 error fatal: could not create leading directories of '/root/.npm/_cacache/tmp/git-clone-e33b6b4f': Permission denied
21 verbose exit [ 1, true ]

When

• happens when using "... install -g git+https://..."
• happens with all repos, public or private, but ultimately I'm trying to solve this for private repos
• happens whether I use "sudo -H" or if switch to root user and run directly

Where

• n/a

How

Current Behavior

• fails to install global packages from GitHub

Steps to Reproduce

• run the following command

sudo -H npm install -g git+https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git

Expected Behavior

• it should work the same as running:

git clone https://github.com/richRemer/pool.git
sudo -H npm install -g $(npm pack pool/)

Who

• n/a

References

• https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install (git+https syntax)
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11542846/nvm-node-js-recommended-install-for-all-users#comment-58129097 (using nvm is a non-starter)

[isaacs]

Duplicate of #624.