npm basic commands

The most commonly used npm commands

After setting up n node.js development environment, you need to know some basic commands of node package manager npm. The followings are the most commonly used ones.

Install package globally. Global packages are usually for executable commands.

$ npm install  -g
# example
$ npm install express -g
# now we can use express to generate a new app
$ express new app

Install package locally. Local packages are for the use of require in the app.

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ npm install 
# example
$ npm install express
# now you can use `var express = require( 'express' );` in your app

Uninstall global package.

$ npm uninstall  -g
# example
$ npm uninstall express -g

Uninstall local package.

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ npm uninstall 
# example
$ npm uninstall express

Search package.

$ npm search 
# example
$ npm search express

List global packages.

$ npm ls -g

List global packages detail.

$ npm ls -gl

List local packages.

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ npm ls

List local packages detail.

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ npm ls -l

Update global packages.

$ npm update -g

Update local packages.

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ npm update

Using `package.json` to manage your app packages

With a package.json file in the root of your app dir, you don’t need to manually install every package.

Instead of doing

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ npm install mongoose
$ npm install express
$ npm install jade

Create a package.json file in the root of your app dir

$ cd /path/to/the/project
$ touch package.json

package.json

{
 "name": "your app name"
 , "version": "0.0.1"
 , "private": true
 , "dependencies": {
 "express": ">=2.5.0"
 , "jade": ">= 0.16.4"
 , "mongoose": ">=2.3.10"
 }
}

Then type in the following command all your packages will be installed.

$ npm install -l

For complete docs please see this.