According to npm docs is npm link not intended to change yours package.json. It creates symbolic links in your file system for the package.
This allows you to still reference the module by name, but pull it out of the local file system:
cd ~/projects/node-redis
npm link
cd ~/projects/node-bloggy
npm link redis
package.json, npm install :
npm install
package.json:
"dependencies": {
"local-package": "file:/path/to/package"
}
, npm link , package.json . , .