npm (Node Package Manager) is Node.js's package management tool and its default package manager. It is used to install, share, and manage JavaScript packages and is one of the largest open-source libraries globally. Using npm can help developers easily manage project dependencies and enhance development efficiency.
Enabling npm
Node.js installed through ServBay comes with npm enabled by default. If you find that npm is not enabled or needs updating, you can follow these steps.
Confirming npm Installation
Open the terminal and enter the following command to check the npm version number
npm -v
Example output
9.1.0
Updating npm
If you need to update npm, you can update it with the following command
npm install -g npm
Confirm the version number again
npm -v
Benefits of Using npm
The main advantage of npm is its globally largest open-source library and convenient package management capabilities. Here are some practical examples of using npm
Initializing a Project
Use npm to initialize a new Node.js project
npm init
This will guide you to create a new package.json file containing basic information and dependencies of the project.
Installing Dependencies
Use npm to install project dependencies
npm install
This will install all dependencies based on the package.json file.
Adding a Dependency
Add a new dependency package
npm install lodash --save
This will install the lodash package and update the package.json file.
Removing a Dependency
Remove a dependency package
npm uninstall lodash --save
This will remove the lodash package from the project and update the package.json file.
Updating Dependencies
Update all dependencies in the project
npm update
Using npm Scripts
npm allows defining scripts in the package.json file, making it convenient to execute common commands. For example, add the following scripts to the package.json file
"scripts": {
"start": "node app.js",
"test": "mocha"
}
Then you can run these scripts with the following commands
npm start
npm test
Common Commands
Install a Global Package
npm install -g <package-name>
For example, install nodemon
npm install -g nodemon
View Global Packages
npm list -g --depth=0
npm cache clean --force
By using npm, developers can easily manage project dependencies, quickly install and update packages, and thus improve overall development efficiency.
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