npm link package name must have a name field to be linked - node.js

Question

Hi I am trying to create a docker image.
Below is a part of my docker file which is causing problem.I think the problem is due to nodejs package.
The current softlink is:
ls -la "/usr/bin/npm"
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 25 Mar 2 01:50 /usr/bin/npm -> /usr/lib/node_modules/npm
Installation is does by a nonroot user
Docker File
#Install node js and npm
RUN curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_6.x | sudo -E bash -
RUN apt-get -y install nodejs
RUN npm install -g bower gulp
RUN npm install -g node-gyp#latest --save
RUN npm init -y
RUN npm install -g n
RUN npm install zmq --save
RUN ldconfig
RUN npm config set prefix ~/npm
#RUN npm install -g stf t
#RUN npm install
#RUN rm -rf /usr/bin/npm
#RUN ln -s /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/ /usr/bin/npm
RUN npm link
Below is the docker build output:
Step 35/42 : RUN npm init -y
---> Running in abf773c34e35
Wrote to /package.json:
{
"name": "",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"keywords": [],
"author": "",
"license": "ISC"
}
Step 38/42 : RUN ldconfig
---> Running in 1562e282d324
Removing intermediate container 1562e282d324
---> bdf746069a90
Step 39/42 : RUN npm config set prefix ~/npm
---> Running in 400512f792d0
Removing intermediate container 400512f792d0
---> 0f3eeb03910c
Step 40/42 : RUN npm link
---> Running in 40ae29419291
npm ERR! Linux 4.4.0-98-generic
npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/node" "/usr/bin/npm" "link"
npm ERR! node v6.13.0
npm ERR! npm v3.10.10
npm ERR! Package must have a name field to be linked
npm ERR!
npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
npm ERR! <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
npm ERR! /npm-debug.log
The command '/bin/sh -c npm link' returned a non-zero code: 1
Any help would be appreciated.Thanks

Answer 1

The problem is that the generated package.json does not have the name property set "name": "",.
As documented in npm-link:
Note that package-name is taken from package.json, not from directory name
The reason why name is empty in package.json is that you are running npm init in the root / of the container.
You have to create a directory and run npm init in there.
...
WORKDIR /app
RUN npm init -y
...