1. What is npm?

• npm (Node Pakage Manager) is a package manager for the Javascript programming lamguage.
• npm is the world's largest Software Registry.
• NPM consists of three main parts:
  1. Website (npmjs.com)
  • The official npm website allows users to discover, browse, and search for packages.
  • lets users create and manage accounts, as well as publish and manage packages
  2. CLI (Command Line Interface)
     • The npm CLI is a tool used to interact with npm directly from the command line.
  3. Registry
     • The npm registry is a massive public database(online repository) of JavaScript packages

2. Installation

• NPM comes pre-installed with Node.js.

A complete roadmap to go from beginner to pro with npm (Node Package Manager).

• Install Node.js (npm comes with it)
• Check versions: node -v, npm -v
• Initialize project: npm init or npm init -y
• Install a package: npm install axios
• Understand dependencies vs devDependencies
• Remove a package: npm uninstall axios
• Install a dev-only tool: npm install eslint --save-dev
• Understand package.json and package-lock.json

• Add custom scripts to package.json
• Run scripts: npm run start, npm run build, etc.
• Use pre and post script hooks (e.g., prebuild)
• Understand lifecycle scripts (prepare, install)
• Install CLI tools globally: npm install -g typescript
• Use npm audit and npm audit fix for security
• Explore npm list, npm outdated

• Understand semantic versioning: ^, ~, *, exact
• Lock versions with package-lock.json
• Use .npmrc for custom config (registry, token, proxy)
• Learn peerDependencies for shared runtime packages
• Use optionalDependencies for non-critical packages
• Link local packages with npm link

• Create a public/private npm package
• Add "main", "types", "files" in package.json
• Publish: npm publish
• Unpublish: npm unpublish
• Bump version: npm version patch/minor/major
• Use .npmignore to exclude files
• Create scoped packages: @your-scope/package

• Use "workspaces" in package.json
• Manage multiple packages in one repo
• Install dependencies in workspace folders
• Build shared code with npm link

Git hooks

• Use npx to run tools without global install
• Use npm ci for faster clean installs in CI
• Analyze bundle size: webpack-bundle-analyzer
• Use husky + lint-staged for Git hooks
• Automate tasks with npm-run-all or concurrently
• Use npm-check to update interactively

• What’s the difference between npm, npx, and yarn?
• Explore the node_modules folder structure
• Learn about ESModules vs CommonJS in packages
• Understand npm registries (default and custom)
• Set up .npmrc auth tokens for private packages

my-app/
├── node_modules/
├── package.json
├── package-lock.json
├── .npmrc
├── src/
└── README.md