Unable to start local test server

I am trying to start up a local development server, but I keep getting errors from npm when following the install steps.

$ npm -i
Error: Failed to replace env in config: ${NPM_TOKEN}
    at /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/config/core.js:415:13
    at String.replace (<anonymous>)
    at envReplace (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/config/core.js:411:12)
    at parseField (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/config/core.js:389:7)
    at /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/config/core.js:330:24
    at Array.forEach (<anonymous>)
    at Conf.add (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/config/core.js:328:23)
    at ConfigChain.addString (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/config-chain/index.js:244:8)
    at Conf.<anonymous> (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/config/core.js:316:10)
    at /usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/graceful-fs/graceful-fs.js:78:16
/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/npm.js:61
      throw new Error('npm.load() required')
      ^

Error: npm.load() required
    at Object.get (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/npm.js:61:13)
    at process.errorHandler (/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/lib/utils/error-handler.js:205:18)
    at process.emit (events.js:182:13)
    at process._fatalException (internal/bootstrap/node.js:628:27)

I am running a brand new debian 9.5 fully updated, with node v11.1.0, and npm v6.4.1
After looking at google results, it looks like it might be that I am using a new and unsupported version of node. If that is true, should work be done to update to the latest version?

Start with the repository's documented install steps and reproduce the failure using Debian 9.5, Node v11.1.0, and npm v6.4.1. Check whether the NPM_TOKEN configuration error is caused by the reported Node/npm versions; done means the supported setup or required update is clearly established and the local server can start.