Managing Node.js Dependencies
A Guide to npm and Yarn
This article provides a comprehensive guide to managing dependencies in Node.js using npm and Yarn. We'll cover installation, updates, and best practices for configuring your projects.
Node Package Manager (npm) and Yarn
Managing Dependencies
Installing and updating packages
Use npm install to install packages.
npm install express
Update packages with npm update .
npm update express
Configuring package.json
The package.json file lists project dependencies.
{
"dependencies": {
"express": "^4.17.1"
}
}
Hands-on: Using npm/yarn for real-world applications
Let's create a simple Node.js app:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello World!'));
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Example app listening on port 3000!'));
Do You Know: You can use
npm init -y to quickly create a package.json file.Avoid This: Don't ignore security updates. Regularly update packages.
Important Note: Always review the licenses of the packages you are using.
Summary
- npm and Yarn manage project dependencies.
package.jsonlists project's dependencies and their versions.- Regularly update packages for security and bug fixes.