npmrc never loaded for `npm install` -

having sub-folder project containing sources in app/, install (npm i) packages selected folder app/vendor/.

having package.json looking like:

{   "name": "***********",   "version": "1.0.0",   "private": true,   "description": "*************",   "main": " ",   "scripts": {     "script": "script"   },   "repository": {     "type": "git",     "url": "ssh://git@inside.******.fr:7999/web/*********.git"   },   "dependencies": {     "jshint": "latest",     "jquery": "latest",     "angular": "latest",   },   "engines": {     "node": "6.9.1"   },   "author": "first , last name",   "license": "unlicensed" } 

and .npmrc file (with 0600 rights):

prefix=${pwd}/app/vendor/ 

npm prefix not mention unfortunately.

here files structure (shortened):

/ ├─┬ app/ │ ├─┬ vendor/ │ │ ├── package.json (i copied there tests) │ │ └── node_modules/ (expected) │ ├── scripts/ │ ├── views/ │ ├── index.html │ └── etc.../ ├── node_modules/ (what get) ├── .gitignore ├── .npmrc └── package.json 

when run npm i packages still installed /node_modules/ @ root of project.

when run npm config ls -l can see:

; project config /the/path/to/my/project/.npmrc prefix = "/the/path/to/my/project/app/vendor"  ; prefix = "/usr" (overridden) 

npm install --prefix app/vendor/ work expected.

what miss ?