If you receive the error "zsh: command not found: npm", the npm command is unavailable on your system. This can happen if you do not have Node.js and npm installed on your computer or are not added to your system's PATH environment variable.
You must install Node.js and npm on your system to fix this error. You can download the latest version of Node.js from the official website (https://nodejs.org/en/) and follow the installation instructions. Once Node.js is installed, you can use the npm command to install and manage npm packages.
Alternatively, you can try adding the path to the npm command to your PATH environment variable. This will allow you to run the npm command from any directory on your system. To do this, you will need to open the .zshrc file in a text editor and add the path to the npm command to the PATH variable.
For example, if the npm command is located at /usr/local/bin/npm, you would add the following line to your .zshrc file:
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin
Once you have added this line to your .zshrc file, save the file and run the source ~/.zshrc command to apply the changes. You should now be able to run the npm command without any errors.
It's worth noting that the specific steps to fix this error may vary depending on your system and configuration. Suppose you are still having trouble getting the npm command to work. In that case, you may want to consult the official Node.js and npm documentation or seek help from experienced users on online forums or communities.
Install Node.js
To install Node.js on your computer, you must download the appropriate installer for your operating system from the official Node.js website (https://nodejs.org/en/). The Node.js website provides installers for all major operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Once you have downloaded the installer, follow the steps below to install Node.js on your system:
MacOS
Double-click the .pkg file you downloaded to start the installation process.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Node.js is installed by running the node -v command in a terminal window. This should print the version number of Node.js installed on your system.
Linux
Open a terminal window and navigate to the directory where you downloaded the Node.js installer.
Use the tar command to extract the contents of the .tar.gz file you downloaded. For example:
Copy codetar -xzvf node-v12.16.2-linux-x64.tar.gz
Use the cd command to navigate to the directory created when you extracted the .tar.gz file. This directory will have a name similar to node-v12.16.2-linux-x64.
Use the sudo command to copy the extracted files to the /usr/local directory. This will allow Node.js to be used by all users on the system:
Copy codesudo cp -r * /usr/local
Once the files have been copied, you can verify that Node.js is installed by running the node -v command in a terminal window. This should print the version number of Node.js installed on your system.
Windows
Double-click the .msi file you downloaded to start the installation process.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Node.js is installed by opening a command prompt and running the node -v command. This should print the version number of Node.js installed on your system.
It's worth noting that the specific steps to install Node.js on your system may vary depending on your operating system and configuration. If you encounter problems during installation, you may want to consult the official Node.js documentation or seek help from experienced users on online forums or communities.
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FAQs
What does the 'zsh: command not found: npm' error mean?
This error occurs when your shell, or terminal, cannot find the npm command.
What is zsh?
Zsh is a shell, or terminal, that can be used as an alternative to the default Bash shell in many Unix-based operating systems.
How do I check if npm is installed on my system?
You can run the command 'npm -v' in your terminal to check if npm is installed.
What should I do if npm is not installed on my system?
You will need to install npm before you can use it. You can do this by following the installation instructions on the npm website.
How do I update npm?
You can update npm by running the command 'npm install -g [email protected]' in your terminal.
How do I add npm to path?
You can add the npm directory to your system's PATH environment variable by adding the following line to your shell configuration file: 'export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/npm'.
What is npx?
Npx is a command line tool that is included with npm and can be used as an alternative to the npm command in some cases.
How do I use npx instead of npm?
To use npx instead of npm, replace 'npm' with 'npx' in your command.
What should I do if I have multiple package managers installed?
It is generally not recommended to have multiple package managers installed on your system, as they can conflict with each other. If you do have multiple package managers installed, you may need to uninstall one or more of them to fix the issue.
Can I use these solutions on any operating system?
Yes, these solutions can be used on any operating system that supports zsh and npm, including Mac, Ubuntu, and Windows.
What does “zsh: command not found: npm” mean?
This error message indicates that the “zsh” shell cannot find the “npm” command. It is a common error that occurs when trying to execute an npm command in the terminal.
How can I fix the “command not found” error?
To fix this error, you need to ensure that the npm executable is installed correctly and the path to the executable is configured correctly in your terminal. This error may also occur if you switch to “zsh” shell from “bash”, or if you have recently upgraded your macOS.
How can I fix the “zsh: command not found: npm” error on macOS?
You can fix this error on macOS by editing your “~/.zshrc” file and adding the following line: “export PATH=$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH”. Ensure that you save the changes and restart your terminal for the changes to take effect. You can also try running the “source ~/.zshrc” command if you don’t want to restart your terminal.
How do I fix the “npm command not found” error on Linux?
You can fix this error by ensuring that node and nvm are installed correctly on your system. You can then run the following command to install the npm executable: “nvm install-latest-npm”. Once the installation is complete, you can check that it has been installed correctly by running the “npm –version” command in your terminal.
Can I configure my terminal to automatically fix the “npm command not found” error?
Yes, you can add an alias to your “/.zshrc” or “/.bashrc” file that will automatically fix the error. Add the following line to your configuration file: “alias fixzsh=‘source ~/.zshrc’”. Save the changes and run the “fixzsh” command in your terminal to execute the changes.
What should I do if the “npm command not found” error persists?
If the error persists, you may need to check that the custom installation path for node and nvm is correct. You may also need to restart your terminal and ensure that node and nvm are installed correctly.
How can I resolve the “command not found” error on my terminal?
To resolve the error, you can try reinstalling npm and restarting your terminal. You can also try editing your “.bashrc” or “.zshrc” configuration file to include the path to the npm executable.
How can I ensure that I have installed nvm correctly?
You can ensure that you have installed nvm correctly by running the command “nvm –version” in your terminal. If the command returns a version number, then nvm is installed correctly on your system.
How do I ensure that my nvm command works correctly?
You can ensure that your nvm command works correctly by verifying that it takes a minute or less to load the nvm bash_completion file. You can also check that the “nvm ls” command returns a list of directories containing node versions.
What can I do if the “command not found” error is failing me?
If the “command not found” error is failing you, you can seek help from a programming tutorial, a question and answer site like stack overflow or github, or other resources online. You can also try to indicate the error message or output you’re seeing and what you have tried already.