IT:AD:NPM

cd to the project directory (eg: d:\projects\foo\)
Use npm init to make a package.json file, defining the directory as the root local directory.
- IT:AD:NPM:HowTo:Create a package.json File
- IT:AD:npm:HowTo:Define the Local Root Folder
Use npm root to verify that it knows where the root local directory is.
Use npm install xyz -G to install packages globally:
- IT:AD:npm:HowTo:Define Needed Global Packages In Package.json File
Use npm install xyz to download gulp, or any other package.
- IT:AD:npm:HowTo:Install Packages, avoiding using the -G flag as much as feasible:
Use npm install xyz -D to download gulp, or any other package, as a build tool dependency.
Use npm view -depth 0 to view what's been downloaded into you local modules directory (eg: d:\projects\foo\node_modules\)

Recipe