How to unlink a npm command-line tool? - node.js

Question

I use node to write a command-line tool.
this is the index.js.
#!/usr/bin/env node
console.log('qiuyuntao');
this is the package.json
{
"name": "qiu",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"author": "",
"license": "ISC",
"bin": {
"qyt": "index.js"
}
}
After I use command npm link, I can use command qyt anywhere. Now I want to unlink the command, I use npm unlink, it said
npm ERR! gentlyRm containing path /usr/local/lib/node_modules/qiu isn't under npm's control
npm WARN install:qiu#1.0.0 Refusing to delete: /usr/local/bin/qyt not in /usr/local/lib/node_modules/qiu
- qiu#1.0.0 node_modules/qiu
So, what should I do to unlink it?

Answer 1

Without knowing what version of npm you are using and if this is a bug thats being resolved I suspect that your global prefix is misconfigured perhaps.
At any rate the easiest solution is to manually remove the symlinks /usr/local/bin/qyt and /usr/local/lib/node_modules/qiu. If you are using the latest version of npm look into filing an issue, otherwise update (npm i -g npm).

Answer 2

Updating npm 3.9.5 > 4.0.5 fixed the same issue for me
Before update:
$ npm unlink
npm WARN install:#coolman/my-module#1.0.0 Refusing to delete /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/mymod: ../lib/node_modules/my-module/index-cli.js symlink target is not controlled by npm /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/lib/node_modules/#coolman/my-module
- #coolman/my-module#1.0.0 node_modules/#coolman/my-module
$ npm --version
3.9.5
After update:
$ sudo npm install npm#latest -g
$ npm --version
4.0.5
$ npm unlink
- #coolman/my-module#1.0.0 node_modules/#coolman/my-module
And to repeat npm link, I needed to manually remove the bin:
$ npm link
npm WARN #my-company/my-module#1.0.0 No repository field.
npm ERR! Darwin 16.1.0
npm ERR! argv "/Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/node" "/Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/npm" "link"
npm ERR! node v6.2.0
npm ERR! npm v4.0.5
npm ERR! path /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/mymod
npm ERR! code EEXIST
npm ERR! Refusing to delete /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/mymod: ../lib/node_modules/my-module/index-cli.js symlink target is not controlled by npm /Users/coolman/my-company/tools/my-module
npm ERR! File exists: /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/mymod
npm ERR! Move it away, and try again.
npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
npm ERR! /Users/coolman/my-company/tools/my-module/npm-debug.log
$ rm /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/mymod
$ npm link
npm WARN #coolman/my-module#1.0.0 No repository field.
/Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/bin/mymod -> /Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/lib/node_modules/#coolman/my-module/index-cli.js
/Users/coolman/.nvm/versions/node/v6.2.0/lib/node_modules/#coolman/my-module -> /Users/coolman/perkbox/tools/run-with-pb-session