====== H) Using npm on Gentoo ======

Quite similarly to the issue with [[gentoo:pip|pip]], direct installation of NodeJS packages via **npm** poses some issues since you don't really want to mess up your system by installing out of tree packages. Everything //should// be managed by portage, but hey, there are literally thousand of packages that you might find usefull to install via **npm**.

The solution is simple. First of all, ensure that you have **net-libs/nodejs** installed with the //npm// use flag:
<code bash>
echo "net-libs/nodejs npm" >> /etc/portage/package.use/nodejs
emerge -v net-libs/nodejs
</code>
this will ensure you have the **npm** command available, but you __do not__ want to run it as user //root//, instead the best practice is to install packages only as non-root users. 

To do so, you need to run, as the non-root user, the following command:
<code bash>
su - my_non_root_user
npm config set prefix .npm_install
</code>

Add this to your **~/.bashrc**:
<file>
export PATH=$PATH:~/.npm_install/bin
</file>

At this point, you will be able to install packages with a command like:
<code bash>
npm install mypackage -g
</code>

And it will work!