Table of Contents

NPM Cheat Sheet

npm install Install missing packages.
npm install package --save Save installed packages to the package.json file as dependencies. Will be available in all builds, including production.
npm install package --save-dev Save installed packages to the package.json file, under the devDependencies object, as dependencies. Will be available only in dev builds, i.e. not production.
npm list -g --depth=0 List globally installed packages.
npm uninstall -g [package_name] Uninstall a global package.
npm outdated List outdated packages.
npm update This will update the package-lock.json file but not the package.json file.
npm view [package_name] List basic information about a package.
npm view [package_name] versions --json List version information about a package.

Updating Packages

The easiest way is to use the npm-check-updates package. Yes, that is correct - NPM's update is so bad, you need to use a seperate package to make it work better…

npm install -g npm-check-updates Installs npm-check-updates
npm-check-updates Lists what packages are out of date (basically the same thing as running npm outdated)
npm-check-updates -u Updates all the versions in your package.json file.
npm update To install the new versions of your packages based on the updated package.json file.

For global packages:

npm-check-updates -g (Run as admin) Lists what global packages are out of date and gives the command to update them.

Versioning

^1.2.3 Means any 1.x.y version that is equal or higher than 1.2.3 and less than 2.0.0.
^0.1.2 The leading zero is a special case. Means any 0.1.x version that is equal or higher than 0.1.2 and less than 0.2.0.
~2.4.5 Patch version only. Means any 2.4.x version that is equal or higher than 2.4.5 and less than 2.5.0.