NPM (Node Package Manager)

Intro

Node supports external packages, or “modules”. NPM was created to serve as a repository for Node package. NPM is both the online repository and a command line tool for downloading, managing, and using NPM packages. NPM also provides additional features, like package configuration options and lifecycle scripts.

NPM packages fall under three categories:

• Packages that only work on Node
• Command line tools, like ESLint and Flow
• Front-end packages for browsers. Note: to use these packages, you have to bundle them somehow to make them available to the browser.

NPM is built into Node, so you can install NPM by installing Node.

Suggested Learning

• Download and install NPM (by installing Node) if you haven’t already.
  • Consider using NVM to install Node.
• Getting Started with NPM
• Learn about package.json. This is where references to your NPM packages are stored.
• Learn about using NPM Scripts for your build process.

Requirements

• Create a new project folder and initialize it with git and npm (hint: npm init)
• Install one or two packages (maybe cowsay).
  • Install your packagess locally and save them to your package.json (hint: --save)
  • Be sure to look up the documentation for the packages to know how to run them.
• Create a script in your package.json file which runs your commands and outputs them to the terminal
• Commit and push your project to Github and show it to the #requirements Discord channel to show you have passed this requirement off.

Extra Learning

This list is by no means complete. Feel free to add an issue or put in a pull request to update it.