Apple - How do I run terminal in sudo mode?

sudo -s is far easier than enabling the root user since it just starts up a shell with root permissions as a one step, on demand action. Not only is it fast, but it doesn't need to be reconfigured when you don't need the root user and doesn't expose the server to any more risk or vulnerability that adding a root user would entail.

Of course for npm you could just follow the directions and type:

sudo -H npm "install" "." "--force" "--global"

That still makes the npm command "root" and skips the log out step to get back out of root.

I usually do it bit differently than how others described here. Lets imagine you have two users. standard user: john admin user: kevin

If john is logged in and wants to run as a root user(as kevin) here is how I do it.

su kevin

when asked enter kevin's password

sudo npm "install" "." "--force" "--global"

enter kevin's password again.

You need to use the su (switch user) command to become root, but only root is allowed to become root, so you need to use sudo (super-user do). Therefore, type: sudo su.

[william@NCC-1701 ~]$ sudo su
Password:
[root@NCC-1701 /Users/william]$ 

If you haven't used root before, you should be made fully aware that one wrong character typed as root will delete your entire operating system, including your photos, emails and financial documents. Be extremely careful and always triple-read what you type before hitting enter. Otherwise, good luck!