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| WebDev 101: How to use npm and Yarn | 2021-10-13T22:12:03.284Z |
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If you're new to web development, it can be difficult to figure out when (and how) to use the package manager most commonly used to install app dependencies and utilities: npm. Likewise, if you've looked into projects that are already established, you may find yourself looking at instructions to use yarn.
In this article, we'll outline how to use both npm and yarn to install dependencies for your project, point out some "gotcha's" that are good to keep in mind while using them,
Setting Up Node
Before we explain how to install Node, let's explain something about the release process of the software.
When it comes to install options there are two:
-
LTS
-
Current
The "LTS" release stands for "long-term release" is considered the most "stable" release, and is recommended for production usage. This is because LTS releases will recieve critical bug fixes and improvements even after a new version comes along. LTS releases often see years of support.
The "current" release, on the other hand, usually sees new features of JavaScript implemented that may not be present in the LTS release. This is often used to experiment and tests new features and functionality before the next LTS release.
NodeJS swiches back and forth between LTS and non-LTS stable releases. For example, Node 12 and 14 were LTS releases, but Node 13 and 15 were not. You can read more about their release cycle on their website
Installing Node
You can find pre-build binaries ready-to-install from NodeJS' website. Simply download the package you want and install it.
If you're unsure which version of Node to go with, stick to the LTS release
Node installs come pre-packaged with their own version of npm, so don't worry about having to install that seperately.
However, the process of upgrading and changing version of NodeJS can be difficult. This is why I (and many others) recommend using NVM to manage your Node versions.
NVM
While Node has a fairly stable API (and their LTS releases are often supported for many years at a time), there may be instances where it's benificial to have the ability to quickly upgrade and change the currently installed Node versions.
For example, some webdev projects only work on specific versions of Node, while other times specific JavaScript features are only available on new versions of Node.
Both Windows, macOS, and Linux all have versions of a program called nvm, which allows you to change the installed version of node based on a single CLI command:
nvm use --lts
Additionally, you can (and, in order to use nvm, must use nvm to do so) install new versions of node using nvm . To do this, simply type:
nvm install --lts
Windows NVM
It's worth noting that the Windows variant of nvm does not support the same commands as the macOS and Linux variants. As such, when you find instructions for nvm online, you may have to find the alternative versions of those commands for the Windows version
For example, the previously mentioned lts command does not work on Windows. Instead, you'll have to lookup the newest LTS release of Node (from their website) and install it as such:
nvm install 12.16.3
Then, simply declare it as your main version of node:
nvm use 12.16.3
Upgrading NPM
The default version of npm is typically good enough for 99.99% of use-cases. Like any other software, however, bug fixes and features are added to new versions of npm. You can follow the official npm blog to read about new features and bug fixes the versions introduce.
Ironically enough, the method of upgrading npm is by using npm itself:
npm i -g npm@latest
Keep in mind that if you switch Node versions using
nvm, you will need to re-run this command on every version of installed Node, as switching Node also swiches the installed version ofnpm.
Installing Yarn
Once you have node and npm installed, installing yarn is as simple as:
npm i -g yarn
Homebrew
If you're using macOS and want to utilize nvm, you can also use Homebrew (a third party package manager for Macs)
Using Node
node
Using NPM/Yarn
npm init