Bytes

Installing Node JS and NPM

Module - 1 Getting Started with Node JS
Installing Node JS and NPM

Introduction to NPM

📦 Npm (short for Node Package Manager) is a powerful package manager for Node.js. It allows developers to easily install, manage, and share packages and dependencies for their Node.js projects. With npm, developers can quickly add new functionality to their projects by installing pre-built packages, without having to write everything from scratch.

📚 NPM avails us with all the libraries and dependencies to use whenever in need without writing them from scratch to use. This is what makes it easier and more important to use NPM and work seamlessly using a wide range of available libraries and dependencies to develop our applications.

Node.js comes with a lot of built-in modules that can be used to build server-side applications. However, note that usage of third-party modules extends the functionality of Node.js. This is where NPM comes in. NPM (short for Node Package Manager) is the default package manager for Node.js.

Importance of NPM in Node.js

Npm is important in Node.js for several reasons:

  1. Package management: 📦 Npm simplifies the management of packages and dependencies for Node.js projects. It allows developers to easily install, uninstall, update, and manage dependencies for their projects, ensuring that their code is always up-to-date and running smoothly.
  2. Community-driven: 🤝 Npm has a vast and active community of developers who create and share packages for various use cases, making it easy for developers to add new functionality to their projects without having to write everything from scratch.
  3. Version control: 🔐 Npm ensures that packages are installed with the correct dependencies and versions, preventing conflicts between packages. This helps to ensure that the code runs smoothly without any issues.
  4. Consistent and repeatable builds: 🔄 With npm, developers can easily specify the required dependencies and their versions in a package.json file. This makes it easy to reproduce builds on different machines, ensuring that the code runs consistently across different environments.
  5. Command-line interface: ⌨️ Npm provides a powerful command-line interface that allows developers to perform a wide range of tasks, including installing packages, publishing packages, and running scripts. This makes it easy to automate tasks and integrate npm with other tools in the development workflow.

Overall, npm is an essential tool for Node.js developers, simplifying package management, ensuring version control, and allowing developers to focus on building their applications, rather than worrying about managing dependencies manually.

Installing Node.js

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to install Node.js:

  1. Go to the official Node.js website: https://nodejs.org/
  2. Choose from the "LTS" OR “Current” button on the homepage.
  3. Select the appropriate version of Node.js for your operating system. There are versions available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  4. Run the downloaded installer.
  5. Follow the prompts in the installer. You may need to agree to the license terms and select the installation location.
  6. Select the components you want to install. The default options should be sufficient for most users and click on next unless the below screen comes.
  7. Click the "Install" button to begin the installation.
  8. Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Node.js is installed by opening a command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS, Linux) and typing "node -v" (without quotes). This should print the version number of Node.js installed on your system.

That's it! You've successfully installed Node.js on your computer.

Installing NPM

To install NPM(Node Package Manager), you will need to first install Node.js, which includes NPM as a default package.

Here are the steps to install NPM on a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system:

  1. Once Node.js is installed, open your terminal or command prompt.
  2. To check if Node.js and NPM are installed correctly, type node -v and npm -v respectively in the terminal. It should display the version of Node.js and NPM because NPM comes with node.js and gets installed while installing node.js.
  3. If NPM is not installed or is outdated, you can install it separately or update it by running the command npm install -g npm in the terminal. This will update NPM to the latest version.
  4. To verify the NPM installation, type npm -v in the terminal. It should display the latest version of NPM.

That's it! Now you have successfully installed NPM on your system. You can use NPM to install and manage packages for your Node.js projects. 🎉👍

Conclusion

In conclusion, NPM(Node Package Manager) is a tool that comes bundled with Node.js, a JavaScript runtime environment used to run JavaScript on the server side. NPM is used to manage packages and dependencies for Node.js projects, making it easier to install and update libraries and frameworks. 🔧 Node.js and NPM have become popular tools for building server-side applications and web APIs, as well as for developing command-line tools and desktop applications. With its powerful and flexible features, Node.js has revolutionized the way developers approach server-side development, while NPM has simplified package management and made it easier to share code with other developers. 🤝

Online Javascript Compiler
Open Compiler
Recommended Courses
Masters in Computer Science: Software Engineering
Course
20,000 people are doing this course
Join India's only Pay after placement Master's degree in Computer Science. Get an assured job of 5 LPA and above. Accredited by ECTS and globally recognised in EU, US, Canada and 60+ countries.
Certification in Full Stack Web Development
Course
20,000 people are doing this course
Become a job-ready Full Stack Web Developer in 30 weeks. Join the largest tech community in India. Pay only after you get a job above 5 LPA.

AlmaBetter’s curriculum is the best curriculum available online. AlmaBetter’s program is engaging, comprehensive, and student-centered. If you are honestly interested in Data Science, you cannot ask for a better platform than AlmaBetter.

avatar
Kamya Malhotra
Statistical Analyst
Fast forward your career in tech with AlmaBetter

Vikash SrivastavaCo-founder & CPTO AlmaBetter

Vikas CTO

Related Tutorials to watch

Top Articles toRead

AlmaBetter
Made with heartin Bengaluru, India
  • Official Address
  • 4th floor, 133/2, Janardhan Towers, Residency Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560025
  • Communication Address
  • 4th floor, 315 Work Avenue, Siddhivinayak Tower, 152, 1st Cross Rd., 1st Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034
  • Follow Us
  • facebookinstagramlinkedintwitteryoutubetelegram

© 2023 AlmaBetter