npm link <path> broken

[nigelzor]

git clone https://github.com/npm/fs-vacuum.git
mkdir example
cd example
npm link ../fs-vacuum

results in

npm ERR! Linux 3.16.0-24-generic
npm ERR! argv "node" "/home/neil/bin/npm" "link" "../fs-vacuum"
npm ERR! node v0.10.33
npm ERR! npm  v2.1.11

npm ERR! /home/neil/npm-repro/fs-vacuum/node_modules/mkdirp is not a child of /home/neil/npm-repro/example
npm ERR! 
npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
npm ERR!     <http://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
npm ERR! error rolling back Error: /home/neil/npm-repro/fs-vacuum/node_modules/mkdirp is not a child of /home/neil/npm-repro/example
npm ERR! error rolling back     at vacuum (/home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/fs-vacuum/vacuum.js:24:15)
npm ERR! error rolling back     at gentlyRm (/home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/utils/gently-rm.js:47:12)
npm ERR! error rolling back     at /home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/unbuild.js:30:20
npm ERR! error rolling back     at /home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/read-package-json/read-json.js:51:40
npm ERR! error rolling back     at /home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/read-package-json/read-json.js:97:49
npm ERR! error rolling back     at evalmachine.<anonymous>:207:20
npm ERR! error rolling back     at OpenReq.Req.done (/home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/graceful-fs/graceful-fs.js:141:5)
npm ERR! error rolling back     at OpenReq.done (/home/neil/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/graceful-fs/graceful-fs.js:61:22)
npm ERR! error rolling back     at Object.oncomplete (evalmachine.<anonymous>:107:15)
npm ERR! error rolling back  [Error: /home/neil/npm-repro/fs-vacuum/node_modules/mkdirp is not a child of /home/neil/npm-repro/example]

At https://github.com/npm/npm/blob/v2.1.9/lib/unbuild.js#L30 gentlyRm should be called with the link target instead of npm.prefix, but we no longer know it.

[othiym23]

The good news is that gentlyRm is getting better at doing its job (removing paths managed by npm and only paths managed by npm). The bad news is that we're running into a bunch of edge cases where it's being too safe now. This is a good find. Thanks. I'll try to get this fixed soon.

[othiym23]

This should be fixed by 29a6ef3, which is part of npm@2.4.0. Can you install npm@next (npm -g install npm@next) and confirm? If it is fixed, can you please close this issue?

[nigelzor]

Seems to be working here. Thanks!