Node.js

Installation

Windows

• Use the latest 64-bit installer
• Then you can just use it from a cmd prompt, eg: npm install -g rad-scripts

Linux

• install Node.js using the "Node.js Version Manager" nvm details
  • find the latest nvm version
  • curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.32.1/install.sh | bash
• restart terminal (or...

export NVM_DIR="/home/m/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm

• nvm ls-remote --lts
• nvm install --lts # to get the latest long-term-support release - you can pick a release too if needed, eg 5.8.0)
• nvm ls # show what you have
• nvm alias default stable # needed?
• the common .bashrc_env should take care of node setup
• additional fyi goo
  • nvm use 4.2.1; node -v; nvm ls; nvm alias default 0.11.13; nvm use default
  • You can create an .nvmrc file containing version number in the project root directory and it will default to that version
  • Global package install example: npm install -g rad-scripts

Upgrade

Don't mess with anything other than lts, you've been warned:

• nvm install --lts

NOTE that you have to reinstall all global packages, as you have a brand new virgin node installation now.

Also, you may want to clean up the older ones at some point.

Development

Create a new node module

Register with npm
A one-time registration is required on a new machine if you want to publish from it: npm adduser Username: moodboom Password: (see private) Email: (this IS public) moodboom@gmail.com

Publish a node module

sudo npm install -g # keep doing this until you are happy with local install # update version in package.json # this creates a FULL "annotated" tag, not a "lightweight" tag that doesn't show up for [git describe] - it also removes the need for a separate commit git tag -a 1.0.5 -m "changes include..." git push && git push --tags # NOTE: bitpost has a git hook to push changes all the way up to github npm publish

Update a node module's dependencies
# make sure dependency in package.json has a carat at the beginning of its version (^x means "at least" version x) # make sure the dependency has a new version available - completely publish it first if it is your own # then you can simply reinstall from within the module folder to get all dependencies upgraded sudo npm install -g

Develop several node modules at once

Convert dependencies to use local packages instead of published versions, eg: cd ~/development/mah-haus npm install -S /home/m/development/thedigitalage/rad-scripts Then reinstall everything (local dependent modules, then parent modules, pita - consider links if doing longer-term dev) sudo npm install -g Then convert back to published versions as they become available (it's up to me to stabilize and publish new module versions): cd ~/development/mah-haus npm install -S rad-scripts

Troubleshoot

• After installing a new node version with [nvm install --lts], you'll have to reinstall all node packages. You should be able to run [mh scripts]. Here's what it does:

cdr && npm install -g; cdm && npm install -g; cdas && npm install -g

• Reinstallation problems

Warning: I had trouble when globally installing rad-scripts from npm and from my local source; for now I'll avoid [npm install -g rad-scripts].

I have also had problems with file locking and permissions when tools like Visual Studio Code are running, see ticket here.

   fixes:
       x close visual studio and kill all node exes (this didn't help this time but has in the past i think?)
       * remove the globally-officially-installed rad-scripts as it blocks installation from the local repo

           rm -rf /home/m/.nvm/versions/node/v8.12.0/lib/node_modules/rad-scripts

           Apparently, we should always use npm install -g from [cdr], not [npm install -g rad-scripts]
           F'in npm.  cmon up your game before yarn etc fragments things into oblivion...

• If filesystem navigation is slow, loadning npm can be EXTREMELY slow; you can add [ --no-use] to startup, then call [node use] before using it, as a shitty workaround. I'll keep upgrading npm until it is sane. It sure has had a rough growing journey.