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Ganesh Shinde
Ganesh Shinde

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NPM Cheat Sheet

#npm #webdev #beginners

This cheat sheet includes commands which will help you while using NPM packages and modules.
Don't worry about remembering all these NPM commands, Take a look at this cheat sheet whenever required.😉
Now go ahead and create something awesome.😎

Table of Contents

Get Version 

npm -v

npm --version
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Get Help 

npm

npm help
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Create package.json 

npm init

# Below commands will create package.json file with default values
npm init -y

npm init --yes
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Set Defaults 

npm config set init-author-name 'YOUR NAME'

npm config set init-license 'MIT'
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Get Defaults 

npm config get init-author-name

npm config get init-license
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Remove Defaults 

npm config delete init-author-name

npm config delete init-license
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Install Packages

Globally

npm install -g package-name
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Production dependency

npm install --save package-name
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Development dependency

npm install --save-dev package-name
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Install Certain Version

Globally

npm install -g package-name@package-version
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Production dependency

npm install --save package-name@package-version
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Development dependency

npm install --save-dev package-name@package-version
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Update Packages

Globally

npm update -g package-name
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Production dependency

npm update --save package-name
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Development dependency

npm update --save-dev package-name
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Remove Packages

Globally

npm uninstall -g package-name
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Production dependency

npm uninstall --save package-name
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Development dependency

npm uninstall --save-dev package-name
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Move to Another Folder

NPM stores installed packages inside node_modules folder.
Most people usually doesn't share node_modules folder along with their code, because you can easily install all the NPM packages they have used using below commands.

Install production and development dependencies.

npm install
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Install production dependencies only.

npm install --production
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Find Root Folder

Globally

npm root -g
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Locally

npm root
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List Packages

Globally

npm list -g

npm list -g --depth 0

npm list -g --depth 1
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Locally

npm list

npm list --depth 0

npm list --depth 1
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NPM Scripts

Define scripts in package.json file.

"scripts": {
  "start": "node index.js",
  "script-name":"command-to-run"
}
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Run scripts

# Only "start" script will execute without run command
npm start

npm run script-name
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Package Version

Find below, What package version with different symbols (*, ~, ^) represents in package.json file.

Version Result
"*" Install package with latest version
"4.17.3" Install package with exact version
"~4.17.3" Install package with latest patch update (Highlighted part gets updated)
"^4.17.3" Install package with latest minor update (Highlighted part gets updated)

Most Preferred

"package-name": "^4.17.3"
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