Node NPM Basics

node_npm_basics.markdown

#Node - NPM Basics

NPM is the Node Package Manager. It is used to install, update and uninstall modules. It will also recursively install dependencies of the installed module. Modules normally reside in the node_modules folder.

###Important Security Note Node comes with the npm package manager. It is strongly encouraged that you should not to do package management with sudo. Packages can run arbitrary scripts which makes them a potential security risk.

It is recommended that you give your user account access to the /usr/local folder instead:

sudo chown -R $USER /usr/local

That sets your user account as the owner of the /usr/local directory, so that you can just issue normal commands in there. Then you won’t ever have to use sudo when you install node or issue npm commands.

###Find Available Packages

Find Available Packages

http://npmjs.org

Search for Available Packages

http://search.npmjs.org
npm search mp3

To view the details

npm view express

Show all Installed Packages

npm list

###Installing Modules

Installing Latest Module

npm install <package>
npm install marked

Installing Latest Module Globally

npm install -g <package>
npm install -g marked

Install Specific Module Version

npm install <package>@<version spec>
npm install marked@0.2.6

Install Specific Module Version Range

npm install <package>@<partial version spec>.x
npm install marked@0.2.x

###Uninstalling a Module

npm uninstall <package>
npm uninstall marked

Uninstalling Globally

npm uninstall -g <package>
npm uninstall -g marked

###Updating a Module

Updating an Installed Module

npm update <package>
npm update marked

Updating a Globally Installed Module

npm update -g <package>
npm update -g marked

##package.json

{
  "name"  : "MyApp",
  "version" : "1.0.0",
  "dependencies" : {
    "marked"  : "2.6.0",
    "request" : ">0.2.0"
  }
}

Install package.json Dependencies

npm install -d

###Options

npm help json

Update global settings

npm set global=true
npm get global

To find all the folders npm uses

npm help folders 
npm uninstall express 
npm outdated  
npm updated express

###Private Packages If you do not want to publish the project then use:

"private": "true"