npm 5.x removes files from node_modules

[cxbrooks]

Note: the issue was created automatically with bugzilla2github tool

Original bug ID: BZ#3
From: @cxbrooks
Reported version: unspecified
CC: accessors-devel@terraswarm.org

[cxbrooks]

Sadly, npm 5.x that is shipped with Node 8.x removes files from the node_modules/ directory, even though that version of npm did not create those files.

In the near term, we are shipping node 7.10.1 with the CapeCode installer.

Details are at https://wiki.eecs.berkeley.edu/accessors/Notes/Npm5

[cxbrooks]

I think the correct solution would be to move everything in the node_modules directory in to packages that are uploaded to npm. Unfortunately, this would mean that the accessors git repo would need to install the packages using npm, which would mean that there would be two copies, one that is in the repo, the other that is installed using npm. Currently, we just populate the node_modules directory with the files in the repo, which makes everything easy.

How do I prevent npm install from removing packages? suggests using npm link

This is handy for installing your own stuff, so that you can work on it and test it iteratively without having to continually rebuild.