How to Use ServBay to Enable npm
Tags: node, webdev, beginners, programming
Published: 2024-07-10 15:39:00

`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.

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## 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
```bash
npm -v
```

Example output

```bash
9.1.0
``` 

## Updating npm
If you need to update npm, you can update it with the following command
```bash
npm install -g npm
```

Confirm the version number again
```bash
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
```bash
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
```bash
npm install
```

This will install all dependencies based on the `package.json` file.

### Adding a Dependency

Add a new dependency package
```bash
npm install lodash --save
```
This will install the `lodash` package and update the `package.json` file.

### Removing a Dependency

Remove a dependency package
```bash
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
```bash
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
```json
"scripts": {
  "start": "node app.js",
  "test": "mocha"
}
```

Then you can run these scripts with the following commands
```bash
npm start
npm test
```

## Common Commands

Install a Global Package
```bash
npm install -g <package-name>
```

For example, install `nodemon`
```bash
npm install -g nodemon
```
View Global Packages
```bash
npm list -g --depth=0
```
```bash
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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