Enhance Your npm Installations with --loglevel (updated: nov 2023)
Tags: npm, node, shell
Published: 2023-05-24 20:56:06

Are you tired of being bombarded with endless logs during npm package installations? In this blog post, we'll introduce you to the game-changing `--loglevel` option in npm. By customising the level of detail displayed during installations, you can optimize your workflow and stay focused. 

Say goodbye to overwhelming logs and hello to a more comfortable and exciting development experience. Let's explore how `--loglevel` can enhance your package management journey!


## Streamlining Package Installations 
## with `--loglevel`

When running the `npm install` command, you might have noticed that npm provides a wealth of information regarding the installation progress. While this can be valuable in certain scenarios, such as debugging or understanding potential issues, it can also clutter the terminal and distract you from your primary focus—developing awesome applications.

Fortunately, npm offers a solution: the `--loglevel` option. By appending `--loglevel` to your `npm install` command, you can control the amount of information displayed during the installation process. Let's take a closer look at the available log levels:

1. `silent`: No output will be displayed, except for fatal errors. It keeps your terminal clean and minimizes distractions.

2. `error`: Only error messages are shown. This level is useful if you want to focus solely on potential issues and avoid non-essential information.

3. `warn`: In addition to error messages, warning messages are displayed. This level helps you catch important warnings while keeping the log minimal.

4. `notice` (default): A standard log level providing important informational messages. It is less detailed than “verbose” but more than “info.” Useful for general notifications about the package manager’s actions.

5. `http`: Logs HTTP requests and responses. It is particularly valuable when troubleshooting issues related to package fetching, downloading, or any other HTTP-related aspects of npm operations.

6. `info`: Informational messages, such as installed packages and installation progress, are displayed. It strikes a balance between providing useful information and avoiding excessive verbosity.

7. `verbose`: Alongside informational messages, more detailed logs are shown. This level is particularly helpful for debugging purposes or when you need deeper insights into the installation process.

8. `silly`: The most verbose log level. It displays all messages, including extremely detailed and debugging-specific information.

By choosing an appropriate log level based on your needs and the specific context of your project, you can tailor the installation process to be more comfortable and exciting for you. It's worth noting that the default log level is `notice`, so you don't need to explicitly specify it unless you want a different level.


## Using `--loglevel` in Practice

To leverage the `--loglevel` option, simply append it to your `npm install` command followed by the desired log level. For example:

```
npm install --loglevel verbose
```

In this case, the installation process will provide more detailed logs, allowing you to closely monitor each step. Conversely, if you prefer a cleaner and less verbose output, you can opt for:

```
npm install --loglevel silent
```

This command will keep the logs to a minimum, only displaying fatal errors if they occur.


—-
Updated info:
- addition of “notice” and “http” options.
- correction of “info” to “notice” as default.  

Thanks [@Michael Sambol](https://x.com/mikesambol/status/1715846928150225328?s=61&t=EIzLbMKrcssdGthqRz0ZFg)