[BUG] npm install does not set up commands defined in `bin`

[jgehrcke]

The bin section in the package.json documentation says

On install, npm will symlink that file into prefix/bin for global installs, or ./node_modules/.bin/ for local installs.

However, that does not seem to happen.

Repro

$ cat package.json
{
 "name": "bin-install-repro",
 "version": "1.0.0",
 "private": true,
 "description": "",
 "scripts": {
 "tsc": "tsc",
 "main": "main"
 },
 "bin": {
 "main": "./main.js"
 },
 "author": "",
 "license": "",
 "dependencies": {}
}

$ cat main.js
#!/usr/bin/env node
console.log("hello universe");

$ npm install .
up to date in 0.445s
found 0 vulnerabilities

$ npm run main

> bin-install-repro@1.0.0 main /home/jp/dev/bin-install-issue
> main

sh: main: command not found

$ ls $(npm bin)
total 0

As we know this can be achieved with npm link, which is documented with

It will also link any bins in the package to {prefix}/bin/{name}.

$ npm link
...
$ npm run main

> bin-install-repro@1.0.0 main /home/jp/dev/bin-install-issue
> main

hello universe

Environment

$ node --version
v12.13.1
$ npm --version
6.12.1

Is the documentation bad, or the implementation? :)

[ljharb]

I think it’s meant to say, on install of the dep into a different project. I don’t think you’ve ever been able to self-reference your own bin names.

[jgehrcke]

Thanks for feedback. Let's maybe think about how what I quoted above (and what mislead me) can be reworded for better clarity. Proposals? I am new to the ecosytem, don't yet quite feel comfortable throwing terms around :).

[ljharb]

s/On install/When the package is installed?

[jgehrcke]

I thought again about my use case that led me to submitting this issue here.

One way to put this use case into words: What I would like to be able to do is to install the bins defined in the current package.json to the local prefix.

I think it's valid. If npm install . is not the way to do it, I think npm link should allow for it. I have submitted #533 correspondingly. Would appreciate your feedback.

[darcyclarke]

npm v6 is no longer in active development; We will continue to push security releases to v6 at our team's discretion as-per our Support Policy.

If your bug is preproducible on v7, please re-file this issue using our new issue template.

If your issue was a feature request, please consider opening a new RRFC or RFC. If your issue was a question or other idea that was not CLI-specific, consider opening a discussion on our feedback repo

Closing: This is an automated message.