[BUG] Broken editor when using "npm config edit --global" on Debian

[eabase]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

I have a fresh nodejs npm install on Debian Trixie.
Trying to find the default config file is imposible, so I tried the npm command:
npm config edit --global (with and without sudo).

It only shows the progress spinner and overwriting the text on each return.
(Vi's :q! still works.)

---

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Expected Behavior

1. That there is an editable .npmrc file somewhere.
2. That the npm config edit --global works.
3. That the /usr/etc/npmrc file exists.
   (Debian doesn't have a /usr/etc!)

Steps To Reproduce

see above

Environment

• nodejs version : v24.14.1
• npm version : 11.11.0
• OS Name: Debian Trixie
• System Model Name: n/a
• npm config:

; node bin location = /usr/bin/node
; node version = v24.14.1
; npm local prefix = /
; npm version = 11.11.0
; cwd = /
; HOME = /home/declaw
; Run `npm config ls -l` to show all defaults.

[eabase]

As the file /usr/etc/npmrc (nor the directory!) doesn't exists, until you have actually saved the config file using vi, you can't edit the file with nano.

The work-around is to run the command, and immediately type :wq!.
This will save the new file in that location, and you can now edit the default configs.

sudo su -
npm config edit --global

# Now you're in the vi editor. Type:  :wq!

ls -al /usr/etc/npmrc
nano /usr/etc/npmrc

But the idiots configuring the Debian Nano package, didn't include all the *.nanorc files.
So you need to install them yourself. Or at least the ini.nanorc one.

#------------------------------------------
# Fix Nano - add missing ini.nanorc file
#------------------------------------------
# *.ini  (used with .npmrc)
# https://github.com/scopatz/nanorc
#------------------------------------------
cd /usr/share/nano/
sudo curl -o ini.nanorc https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scopatz/nanorc/master/ini.nanorc
sudo ln -s ini.nanorc npmrc.nanorc

sudo nano /usr/etc/npmrc

# With code color/markdown
sudo nano -Y INI /usr/etc/npmrc