couldn't install npm on ubuntu

Question

Tried to install nodejs and npm on ubuntu 12.04. I googled and did it. Now, I could not install npm on machine.

sudo apt-get install npm

Which gives me this

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 npm : Depends: nodejs but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: nodejs-dev
       Depends: node-request but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-mkdirp but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-minimatch but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-semver but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-ini but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-graceful-fs but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-abbrev but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-nopt but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-fstream but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-rimraf but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-tar but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: node-which but it is not going to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

Solution 1

I solved this issue by following this documentation.

Pointers to remember to work with npm:

mkdir ~/nodejs/ && cd ~/nodejs
sudo apt-get install npm
npm install
npm update

While developing applications, if nodejs needs any particular module then run

cd ~/nodejs
npm install modulename   #for example sendgrid

Sometimes, modules needs to install globally; then use

sudo npm install modulename -g"

To remove a module:

cd ~/nodejs
npm uninstall modulename          # if locally installed or 
sudo npm uninstall modulename -g  # if globally installed

npm prune helps to remove unmet dependencies

Solution 2

This looks like you probably installed the chris-lea node.js ppa which is fine. However, you don't install npm from that ppa as it breaks the way debian packages work. Instead, just install nodejs. Once that's installed, run npm -v you should see it's now installed. If you didn't use the chris-lea ppa update your question on what webpage you Googled to find out how to install nodejs on Ubuntu.

Solution 3

Try installing NodeJs like this:

sudo apt-get install nodejs

Since NodeJs installs node and npm

Solution 4

Apt doesn't handle dependancy conflicts well, use snap or aptitude;

sudo aptitude install npm

I had to press "no" to the first solution it proposed, which did not include installing npm (that must be a bug in aptitude) then the second solution I pressed yes to hTHen check npm was installed:

npm --version

Solution 5

First, you need to install the PPA in order to get access to its contents:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_9.x | sudo bash -

(This for version 9, which is the latest version at the time of writing).

And then

sudo apt-get install nodejs

View more solutions

Comments

[Peter Krauss]

I think nobody say, but apt-get install npm must be avoid (!). Check if npm -v is there before to try to install.... (read more below at @MarcoCerpi's answer )

[GregD]

Are you running a 32-bit system? If so, it is not officially supported and you need to use a build from the node unofficial-builds web site.

[Hank Chan]

Can't believe I'm still getting tripped over by this on Ubuntu 20.04...

[Mariano Argañaraz]

How would he run "npm -v" if he cannot install npm...?

[Mariano Argañaraz]

He cannot install npm men, how could he get to point 3?!

[Mariano Argañaraz]

How would he run "npm config..." if he cannot install npm...?

[Peter Krauss]

The "modern" apt-get install nodejs do also npm updated installation, so, I understand that apt-get install npm must be avoided (!).

[Peter Krauss]

See stackoverflow.com/a/34244847/287948

[Jonathan]

I removed my PPA and I got ` npm : Depends: node-gyp (>= 0.10.9) but it is not going to be installed`

[ZZ 5]

doesn't work with 16.04

[Gigiux]

no npm installed with this...

[Justech]

Also worked for me. Thank you!