In Open Global npm Config File, I showed how you can access and modify the current npm config. The thing that stands out in that file is the sheer number of config options.
What do they all mean?
To get "more than you probably want to know about npm configuration", open up the npm config help with the following command:
$ npm help 7 configThere are a ton, so browse at your own peril. You'll notice that each option lists its default value, the type of that value, and a description about usage.