npm-edit

Edit a locally installed package in the default editor

$ npm edit [package_name]

npm edit <package-name>

package-name
    The name of the installed npm package to open for editing. This package must already be present in your project's node_modules directory.

--editor <editor-command>
    (Global npm option) Specifies a particular editor command to use, overriding the `EDITOR` or `VISUAL` environment variables for this operation.

The npm edit command opens the specified installed package's directory in your configured default editor. This utility is primarily used for debugging or making quick, temporary modifications to a dependency located within your project's node_modules folder. It provides a convenient way to inspect or alter a package's source code without needing to uninstall, modify, and reinstall it from a different source.

It's crucial to understand that any changes made using npm edit are not permanent. They will be overwritten and lost the next time the package is updated, reinstalled, or if npm clean-install is performed, as these operations typically rebuild the node_modules directory based on the package-lock.json and package.json files. For persistent changes, it's generally recommended to fork the package, make your modifications, and then use your modified version, or utilize tools like npm link for local development.

• Temporary Changes Only: Changes made with npm edit are strictly local and temporary. They will be lost upon subsequent npm install, npm update, or npm ci operations for that package.
• No Version Control: This command does not integrate with version control. Any modifications are unrecorded unless you manually manage them.
• Local Scope: Edits only affect the specific package instance within your current project's node_modules.
• Potential for Instability: Modifying installed dependencies directly can lead to unexpected behavior or breakages if not done carefully.

The command respects the EDITOR or VISUAL environment variables to determine which text editor to launch. If neither is set, it might fall back to a default system editor (e.g., vi on Unix-like systems, notepad on Windows).

While not intended for permanent solutions, npm edit is highly valuable for rapidly testing a potential fix, understanding a package's internal workings, or adding temporary logging without the overhead of publishing a new version or managing a dedicated fork.

The npm edit command has been a foundational utility in npm for a significant period, providing developers with a quick mechanism to debug or experiment with installed package code. Its design reflects npm's emphasis on practical developer workflows and efficient debugging capabilities. It offers a low-friction approach to interacting directly with dependencies during development, predating and complementing more structured local development workflows like npm link in various scenarios.

npm install(1), npm update(1), npm link(1), npm uninstall(1), npm root(1)