environment for executing JS code outside a browser • Open-source and cross platform ◦ Linux, macOS, Microsoft WIndows, SmartOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and IBM AIX • Lets developers use JavaScript to write command line tools • Allows for JavaScript full stack development
• npm is the standard package manager for Node.js • Essential JavaScript development tool ◦ Used by over 11 million JS developers • Largest single language code repository/software registry in the world ◦ 350,000+ Packages • Used by 500 of the Fortune 500 (and almost any other company with a website)
A directory with one or more files ◦ Must include package.json • Think of a building block that solves one specific problem really well • Many different packages can be used in conjunction to create custom solutions • Developers create packages and upload them to the npm registry for others to use
to use, set up Orgs to manage access to packages • Command Line Interface (CLI) ◦ Runs from terminal ◦ How most developers utilize npm • Registry ◦ Large public database of JavaScript software packages, and the meta-information surrounding it
to fit your personal project • Download tools • Run packages without downloading them • Share code with any npm users • Restrict code to specific developers • Create Orgs to maintain package maintenance, coding, and developers • Form virtual teams using Orgs • Update applications when packages are updated