I have installed Node JS and then imported an existing work project in Visual Studio Code. After that I ran npm install in the project folder, then run npm start and the app comes up fine. However, if I run an ng command I get an error telling me "ng is not valid command", even though the Angular CLI is in the modules folder.
I tried manually installing Angular CLI globally and set system path to point to the npm folder, and then the ng command works fine. What I don't understand is why do I need to install CLI globally if I just want to run that command within the project where the module is already present?
As a general rule then you will need to install globally any commands you wish to use (without NPX). This isn't really a restriction of NPM so much as it is a fundamental way in which command line programs work. The OS will only look in fixed predefined locations set in PATH. This applies to any Node based tool such as grunt or ng or whatever.
(While some systems do look for executables relative to the current working directory, or can be configured to, it's generally not a good or reliable method and NPM doesn't rely on this behaviour).
For something like the Angular CLI then installing it globally should be fine and is what many people will do. As a general rule if it is a command you want to run, rather than a dependency for a project, you can consider installing it globally. You'll notice that on the Angular CLI page the example does exactly that.
In many cases however you might want to run a command from a local project. Perhaps for a build script or something else where you want to keep it isolated. In that case you instead prefix your command with npx which will look inside the local project for commands.
What is npm?
Whenever I browse through some project they ask me to run npm command, something like this
npm install -g node-windows
I went through some blog posts to learn about npm and I installed Node.js. However, when I run the above code in Node.js, I get the following errors:
When I browsed further, I came to know that the windows user can run the command from the cmd prompt window, but when I do that I get some output like this:
Which just generate a text file nothing else.
My questions:
How can I get started with the AngularJS2?
How can I run an npm command?
Do I require a command prompt to run the npm command (in Windows), or I can just use Node.js?
When I use the command npm install in my command prompt, I get the following output:
How to get started with the angularJS2
Follow this link and set up the project by following instructions
How to run a npm command
npm stands for Node Package Manager, and therefore you need Node.js installed before you can run npm commands.
Follow this and install the latest version. And restart the command prompt.
Do I require a command prompt to run npm commands (in Windows), or can I just use Node.js?
Yes, you need to run npm commands from the command line (in Windows).
E.g., npm install
You get the warning because there is no package.json file present where you are running the command.
ENOENT stands for Error NO ENTrey
Navigate to the project folder using the following command and then run npm install
cd <projectpath>
The AngularJS 2 website has everything you need to be covered. Their quickstart guide alongside with the quickseed zip file helps a lot.
But, in case you missed some points:
yes, you will need npm/NodeJS. So, download the latest distribution and have a clean installation of it.
you can execute the npm command with its parameters from within the Windows cmd.
the quickseed ZIP file contains all the files you need to see a live and quick example running locally. Unzip it on your workplace and navigate to it using the windows cmd. When inside the root folder of the unzipped package, execute npm install and right after it npm start.
Take the learning path. Step by step, all your questions will be answered.
You need to use an admin prompt for global installation (-g).
Newbie question. I have chosen not to install express with -g option. I did not use npm -g which would put it on the path globally. Instead it is installed in my local mac user directory. What I am not clear on is exactly what or how you put a package like express on the path so it can be invoked etc? What exactly needs to be on the path (node_modules?) so these packages are available just like a -g installation? I could have used home-brew I suppose but anyway, I now have all node packages and everything local. Another situation is that I am not able to run any of the nodejs tutorials. Although there might be smarter ways to do this, I wonder if sudo is really such a good way to install a development package ....
Now for example, I want to run the tutorial javascripting which is a nodejs tutorial. How do I do this. If I just type:
Mac1$ javascripting
it finds nothing.
Same for
Mac1$ express
UPDATE: THIS WAS ANSWERED IN THE COMMENTS
The commands exist in a hidden directory after a regular
install npm install express
in my case this the command goes here: /users/MAC1/node_modules/.bin
It is this path that needs to be placed on the $PATH as described in the first comment.
Thanks guys.
npm installes executable to two places. By default running a npm install in a project will install any binaries in ./node_modules/.bin. When you use the -g flag (npm install -g package-name) it will install into a global path. You can find out the global path by running npm bin -g. Add that to your path and globally installed executables will be accessible.
You can also add ./node_modules/.bin to your path to allow easy access to executables added by packages in your project folder. I admit to using this on a trusted local machine. However, this is very dangerous and not a recommended way to expose the executables in the node_modules directory.
Best alternative is to add the executable to the scripts section of the package.json file and then use npm run-script <command> which will auto prepend the ./node_modules/.bin when executing.
package.json
{
"scripts": {
"foo": "foo --arguments"
}
}
Example
$ npm install foo
$ ls ./node_modules/.bin
foo
$ npm run-script foo
# Executes:
./node_modules/.bin/foo --arguments
I am new to node.js. I downloaded and install node.js installer from the official site. I have added this installer folder in PATH environment variable and I am able to run programs. But when I try to install some package using npm in node console it shows the error npm should be run outside of the node repl, in your normal shell. I also tried it on a separate console. But it shows command not found though I have added node in the environment variable.
For Windows users, run npm commands from the Command Prompt (cmd.exe), not Node.Js (node.exe). So your "normal shell" is cmd.exe. (I agree this message can be confusing for a Windows, Node newbie.)
By the way, the Node.js Command Prompt is actually just an easy shortcut to cmd.exe.
Below is an example screenshot for installing grunt from cmd.exe:
Do not run the application using node.js icon.
Go to All Programmes->Node.js->Node.js command prompt.
Below is example screen shot.
If you're like me running in a restricted environment without administrative privileges, that means your only way to get node up and running is to grab the executable (node.exe) without using the installer. You also cannot change the path variable which makes it that much more challenging.
Here's what I did (for Windows)
Throw node.exe into its own folder (Downloaded the node.exe stand-alone )
Grab an NPM release zip off of github: https://github.com/npm/npm/releases
Create a folder named: node_modules in the node.exe folder
Extract the NPM zip into the node_modules folder
Make sure the top most folder is named npm (remove any of the versioning on the npm folder name ie: npm-2.12.1 --> npm)
Copy npm.cmd out of the npm/bin folder into the top most folder with node.exe
Open a command prompt to the node.exe directory (shift right-click "Open command window here")
Now you will be able to run your npm installers via:
npm install -g express
Running the installers through npm will now auto install packages where they need to be located (node_modules and the root)
Don't forget you will not be able to set the path variable if you do not have proper permissions. So your best route is to open a command prompt in the node.exe directory (shift right-click "Open command window here")
It's better to use the actual (msi) installer from nodejs.org instead of downloading the node executable only. The installer includes npm and makes it easier to manage your node installation. There is an installer for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows.
Also a couple of other tidbits:
Installing modules globally doesn't do what you might expect. The only modules you should install globally (the -g flag in npm) are ones that install commands. So to install Express you would just do npm install express and that will install Express to your current working directory. If you were instead looking for the Express project generator (command), you need to do npm install -g express-generator for Express 4.
You can use node anywhere from your command prompt to execute scripts. For example if you have already written a separate script: node foo.js. Or you can open up the REPL (as you've already found out) by just selecting the node.js (start menu) shortcut or by just typing node in a command prompt.
As mscdex said NPM comes with the nodejs msi installed file. I happened to just install the node js installer (standalone). To separately add NPM I followed following step
Download the latest zip file of NPM from here.
Extract it in the same file as that of node js installer.
If you have added the directory containing to node js installer to PATH env variable then now even npm should be a recognized command.
you just open command prompt,
then enter in c:/>('cd../../')
then npm install -g cordova
It's simple. Press the Windows logo on your keyboard. Then, type node.js command prompt in the search bar and run it.
You must get directory right path of program(node.js in program files).
such as
and use "npm install -g phonegap"
Just open Node.js commmand promt as run as administrator
Okay I am running node on windows (7). Using npm I just installed modules to d:\ directory. Therefore my files structure looks like the following:
D:\
-myproject
-node_modules
-.bin
-express
However, when I am in this 'myproject' directory, I can't seem to run 'express' for example:
D:\myproject\express site
'express' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Am I doing anything wrong?
Try:
npm install -g express-generator#3
That solved problem for me.
Edit: for version 4
npm install express-generator -g
Description:
express is the package for dependency of express js.
express-generator is the package for enabeling express command and create a sample project, etc.
Assuming that this is kept separate for the decoupling of project dependency with cli tool of express.
Another SO ref: https://stackoverflow.com/a/41311733/1666582
Here's what to type in the command line to make it work in windows:
npm install express-generator -g
[Source: http://expressjs.com/starter/generator.html]
My guess is that you didn't install Express globally. You can install express globally (and therefore available in your PATH) with the following command (see http://expressjs.com/guide.html) :
npm install -g express
The way you install it is available only in the folder that you installed it and there is nothing wrong with that approach. There is very little advantage of having it available globally.
If express is not in your PATH you can run it by entering the full path to it:
\myproject\node_modules\.bin\express.cmd
With the release of Express 4.0.0 it looks like you need to do
npm install -g express-generator
We need to set path for express global directory
C:\Users[User_Name]\AppData\Roaming\npm\
After add a new path, please reopen the CMD console
Tried all of these and never worked. A repair of Node.js by kicking of installation and selecting repair option does the magic.
Cheers
What worked for me was:
I used the windows command prompt instead of the node.js command prompt.
In windows 10 simply type in the windows search bar for "node"
You see a node.js desktop app and a node js command prompt.
Choose the "node js command prompt"
Type in the command prompt
npm install express-generator -g
Then navigate somewhere and type in:
express your-website-text-here -e
A directory with express files will be generated. Also now you won't see the express error.
I was able to fix with the following package install:
npm install express-generator -g
Thanks
When you install Node.js, the below path is added to the Windows OS %Path% variable, I'm presuming similar happens on other operating systems as well:
C:\Users\<your-windows-username>\AppData\Roaming\npm
In my case, because I use a work Windows laptop for an employer that severely restricts what employees can do on their machines (I.e. many actions require elevated admin privileges), Node.js was being prevented from adding the above path to the Windows %Path% environment variable, and much to my chagrin the Node.js installation was silent about it. Navigate to above folder and you will notice the express command lives there, see screenshot below.
How did I figure this out? I did a fresh installation of Node.js on a personal, home Windows machine that has no admin privilege restrictions like my work machine does, compared the before and after %Path% value, and noticed the addition of that path. My work machine was missing it.
I had no choice but to add the path manually to %Path%, and then express was recognized from within any path I ran it.
I was able to fix this with:
npm install express-generator -g
I tried all the above solution, no luck for me.
Open "Node.js" command prompt and tried as administrator. It is working fine for me. Don't try with windows command prompt.
I have the same problem and understand the solution, but i can´t undestand why, running npm install -g express, express.bat isn´t added automatically to Path.
Running with npm install -g express have the same result. Download packages and store in node_modules, but express.bat isn´t added to path.
Run the node command prompt as administrator and then install express globaly
npm install -g express
and then go to folder where you want to install express generator, open command prompt there and run this command
npm install express-generator, it will then fix the issue
I have tried out all above solutions, but its did't worked for me, finally I have re-installed the node.js with newer version and started to express install process again. Its worked for me.
npm install -g express
npm install -g express-generator
What command are you using to open the directory?
That error means CMD can't find the "express" executable in the current directory.
Use the "PUSHD" command or "CD /D" instead of "CD"
#Echo OFF
PUSHD "D:\myproject\express" || (Echo bad folder)
express.exe "site"
Pause&Exit
Express is loaded someplace else and not in the windows path environment variable. You need to find were express.exe is installed and add the path. Maybe something like ;"C:\Program Files\Express\bin";
Running "npm install express" and "npm install express-generator" from your project directory will resolve the issue (if that helps).
But, this doesn't solve the problem of being global.
You might check the permissions to the folder if you are getting this when creating your project
Express Project
change script section in package.json file like this
"scripts": {
"start": "node app.js"
}
I too faced the similar problem and at last I tried using node.js command prompt instead of windows command prompt and it worked. So, try from node.js command prompt.
Tried all of these but didn't work for me. Also, I tried from different sources but never worked for me.
In the end, found that I need to run the command forcefully. It worked for me.
Make sure you run the command with Run as Administrator.
npm install -g --force express-generator
It will overwrite the existing express files.
Use npm start .. then the app.js runs .. which can be listened on the usual port 3000