CODEWITHSUNDEEP
node.js
Richard Rublev
Richard Rublev

Reputation: 8172

Why n throws error? Error: sudo required (or change ownership, or define N_PREFIX)

I want to install latest Node.js version

n latest

  installing : node-v14.2.0
       mkdir : /usr/local/n/versions/node/14.2.0
mkdir: cannot create directory ‘/usr/local/n’: Permission denied

  Error: sudo required (or change ownership, or define N_PREFIX)

Something is wrong with ownership. I tried to fix this

sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/n

Same error again.

n latest
cp: cannot create directory '/usr/local/lib/node_modules': Permission denied
cp: cannot create regular file '/usr/local/bin/node': Permission denied
cp: cannot create symbolic link '/usr/local/bin/npm': Permission denied
cp: cannot create symbolic link '/usr/local/bin/npx': Permission denied

Permissions in n

/usr/local/n$ ll
total 12
drwxrwxr-x  3 miki root 4096 мај  8 13:29 ./
drwxr-xr-x 11 root root 4096 мај  8 13:29 ../
drwxrwxr-x  3 miki miki 4096 мај  8 13:29 versions/

SOLVED

sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/bin /usr/local/lib /usr/local/include /usr/local/share

Upvotes: 57

Views: 49241

Answers (6)

Peter Godwin
Peter Godwin

Reputation: 1

For linux Run this command: sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/n && sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/n/

then: n stable

you will get a message on your terminal that says:

Note: the node command changed location and the old location may be remembered in your current shell. old : /usr/bin/node new : /usr/local/bin/node If "node --version" shows the old version then start a new shell, or reset the location hash with: hash -r (for bash, zsh, ash, dash, and ksh) rehash (for csh and tcsh)

you can run the hash -r for these shells (bash, zsh, ash, dash, and ksh), or rehash for these (csh and tcsh).

Upvotes: 0

zhuziyi
zhuziyi

Reputation: 865

I also encountered this problem, in fact, the current user does not have permissions to the global directory.

Trying to use the solution in Ignacio Lago's answer didn't work, and in the end it was solved perfectly with the following method:

  1. First install node with brew, and install n globally.
brew install node
npm install -g n
  1. Execute the diagnostic command for n
n doctor

It will list what the problem is, just refer to the help suggestion in the error list.

Finally, remember to uninstall the node installed with brew, and it will be solved perfectly.

brew uninstall node

Perfect！

Upvotes: 1

Remy
Remy

Reputation: 894

A preferred solution should be to override the default location to a directory that doesn't require admin privileges, by defining N_PREFIX.

For updating the directory to your user directory, use the following:

export N_PREFIX=$HOME/.n
export PATH=$N_PREFIX/bin:$PATH

Doc ref: https://github.com/tj/n#optional-environment-variables

Upvotes: 9

siva hari
siva hari

Reputation: 131

Nodejs the proper way without using sudo. Update existing proper installation:

npm i -g n
N_PREFIX=$HOME/.local n stable

Reference: https://guillermo.at/update-node-proper-way

Upvotes: 2

Ignacio Lago
Ignacio Lago

Reputation: 2572

Context

n command downloads and installs to /usr/local by default, creating the /usr/local/n folder with these permissions by default:

drwxr-xr-x root  wheel  .
drwxr-xr-x root  wheel  ..
drwxr-xr-x root  wheel  versions

Possible solutions

A. Add yourself to the group and grant write permission (safer):

  1. Add yourself to the wheel group.

    1.1 macOS:

     sudo dseditgroup -o edit -a $(whoami) -t user wheel

    1.2 GNU/Linux:

     sudo usermod -a -G wheel $(whoami)

  2. Allow wheel members writing permission on that folder:

     sudo chmod -R g+w /usr/local/n/

B. Change ownership directly to your user (quicker):

You would need to change where n stores node versions ownership:

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/n && sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/n/

C. Change the folder where n saves node binaries, etc.

The n command downloads and installs to /usr/local by default, but you may override this location by defining N_PREFIX.

Source: https://github.com/tj/n#optional-environment-variables

  1. Create a folder, ie: $HOME/.n

     mkdir $HOME/.n

  2. Define the environment variable N_PREFIX adding to your shell initialisation file this line:

    2.1. bash (~/.bashrc) or zsh (~/.zshrc):

     export N_PREFIX=$HOME/.n

    2.2. fish (~/.config/fish/config.fish):

     set -x N_PREFIX $HOME/.n

  3. Add the new binary path to your environment's $PATH:

    3.1. bash/zsh:

     export PATH=$N_PREFIX/bin:$PATH

    3.2. fish:

     set -x PATH $N_PREFIX/bin:$PATH

Upvotes: 77

jsusmm
jsusmm

Reputation: 181

you just need to define the N_PREFIX.

  • First create the folder where the n data will be saved

    mkdir $HOME/.n

  • then export the N_PREFIX in your .bashrc file

    export N_PREFIX=$HOME/.n

if you use fishshell, add this to your .config.fish file: set -x N_PREFIX $HOME/.n

Upvotes: 18

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