Previously we talked about JavaScript runtime here, now continue for NPM.

Node.js is a popular platform for building server-side applications. One of the key features of Node.js is the ability to use “modules” — pre-written pieces of code that can be easily shared and reused in different projects.

These modules are stored in the “Node Package Manager” (NPM) registry, which is a public repository of open-source Node.js packages. The NPM registry is the largest ecosystem of open-source libraries in the world, and it contains over 1.3 million packages.

Using NPM, developers can easily search for and install the modules they need for their projects. For example, if you want to use the “axios” module, which provides utility functions for working with arrays and objects, you can simply run the command npm install axiosin your terminal. This will download the latest version of the Axios module and install it in your project.

In addition to installing packages from the NPM registry, developers can also create and publish their packages. This allows them to share their code with the community and reuse it in their projects.

Setting up an NPM environment is relatively straightforward and can be done on any operating system. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up an NPM environment:

1. Install Node.js: The first step is to install Node.js on your system. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that is required to run NPM. You can download the latest version of Node.js from the official website (https://nodejs.org/) and follow the instructions to install it on your system.

2. Verify the installation: Once Node.js is installed, you can verify the installation by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing node -v. This should display the version of Node.js that is installed on your system.

3. Create a project directory: Next, create a directory for your project. This will be the root directory for your project and will contain all of the files and packages that you will be using.

4. Initialize the project: Inside the project directory, run the command npm init. This will initialize the project and create a package.json file, which is a configuration file that contains metadata about the project and its dependencies.

5. Install packages: To install packages from the NPM registry, you can use the npm install command followed by the name of the package you want to install. For example, npm install axioswill install the axios package in your project.

6. Run scripts: The package.json file also allows you to specify scripts that can be run using the npm run command. For example, you could create a script to build your project or run tests.

That’s it! You now have a working NPM environment set up for your project.

Overall, the NPM registry and the use of node modules are crucial components of the Node.js ecosystem, making it easy for developers to share and reuse code and build powerful applications. You can use NPM to install and manage packages, run scripts, and much more.