NPM Package Management Tools are utilities that help developers manage dependencies in their Node.js projects. These tools provide functionalities like checking for outdated packages, installing peer dependencies, and managing package installations more efficiently. They aim to streamline the development workflow, ensure that projects use the latest compatible versions of libraries, and handle dependencies more effectively. Tools like npm-check and npm-check-updates focus on identifying outdated packages, while npm-install-peers helps with installing peer dependencies automatically. npm-which is useful for locating installed binaries, and preferred-pm allows developers to specify their preferred package manager for a project, enhancing compatibility and consistency across different environments.
Npm Package Weekly Downloads Trend
3 Years
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Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
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Publish
License
preferred-pm
2,073,275
102
5.04 kB
28
10 months ago
MIT
npm-which
770,941
78
-
1
9 years ago
MIT
npm-check-updates
617,779
10,084
5.83 MB
94
a day ago
Apache-2.0
npm-check
346,804
6,644
94.1 kB
233
-
MIT
npm-install-peers
22,131
196
11.5 kB
1
-
MIT
Feature Comparison: preferred-pm vs npm-which vs npm-check-updates vs npm-check vs npm-install-peers
Outdated Package Management
npm-check-updates:
npm-check-updates focuses specifically on identifying and updating outdated packages in your package.json file. It can update both minor and major versions, providing a quick way to ensure your project is using the latest versions of all dependencies.
npm-check:
npm-check provides a comprehensive overview of your project’s dependencies, showing which packages are outdated, unused, or missing. It allows for interactive updates directly from the command line, making it easy to manage dependencies in real-time.
Interactive Interface
npm-check-updates:
npm-check-updates is primarily a command-line tool without an interactive interface. It quickly scans your package.json and suggests updates, but it does not provide a visual or interactive way to manage the update process.
npm-check:
npm-check features an interactive interface that allows developers to review and update packages, remove unused ones, and install missing dependencies all in one place. This hands-on approach makes it easier to manage dependencies thoughtfully.
Peer Dependency Installation
npm-check:
npm-check does not specifically handle peer dependencies, but it provides information about them, allowing developers to manually ensure that peer dependencies are installed correctly.
npm-install-peers:
npm-install-peers is dedicated to automatically installing peer dependencies listed in a package. It simplifies the process of ensuring that all required peer dependencies are installed, reducing the manual effort involved.
Binary Location
npm-which:
npm-which is a straightforward tool for locating the path of an executable installed by npm. It helps developers verify which version of a binary is being used, which can be useful for debugging and ensuring consistency across environments.
Package Manager Preference
preferred-pm:
preferred-pm allows developers to specify their preferred package manager for a project, which can help avoid issues related to using different package managers. This is particularly useful in teams where consistency in package management is important.
Ease of Use: Code Examples
preferred-pm:
Set preferred package manager with preferred-pm
npx preferred-pm set <package-manager>
npm-which:
Find the path of an npm binary with npm-which
npx npm-which <binary-name>
npm-check-updates:
Update all packages with npm-check-updates
npx npm-check-updates -u
npm install
npm-check:
Interactive package management with npm-check
npx npm-check
npm-install-peers:
Automatically install peer dependencies with npm-install-peers
npx npm-install-peers
How to Choose: preferred-pm vs npm-which vs npm-check-updates vs npm-check vs npm-install-peers
preferred-pm:
Choose preferred-pm if you want to enforce the use of a specific package manager (like npm, yarn, or pnpm) in your project. This can help maintain consistency across development environments and avoid issues related to different package managers.
npm-which:
Opt for npm-which if you need a simple command-line tool to find the path of an executable installed by npm. It’s useful for debugging and ensuring that the correct version of a binary is being used in your project.
npm-check-updates:
Select npm-check-updates if you need a quick and efficient way to update your package.json file with the latest versions of all dependencies, including major version updates. It’s ideal for projects that require a straightforward way to ensure they are using the latest packages without manual editing.
npm-check:
Choose npm-check if you want an interactive tool that not only checks for outdated packages but also provides a visual interface to update them, remove unused packages, and install missing ones. It’s great for maintaining your project’s dependencies actively.
npm-install-peers:
Use npm-install-peers when you want to automate the installation of peer dependencies, especially in projects where these dependencies are not explicitly listed. This tool is helpful for ensuring that all required peer dependencies are installed without having to do it manually.
Popular Comparisons
Similar Npm Packages to preferred-pm
preferred-pm is a utility for managing package managers in JavaScript projects. It allows developers to specify their preferred package manager (like npm, yarn, or pnpm) and ensures that the correct one is used for installing dependencies. This can be particularly useful in projects where multiple developers may use different package managers, helping to maintain consistency and avoid issues related to package management.
While preferred-pm offers a unique solution for managing package managers, there are several alternatives that provide similar functionalities:
npm-check is a tool that helps developers manage their npm dependencies. It allows you to check for outdated, incorrect, and unused dependencies in your project. With npm-check, you can easily see which packages need to be updated and can even update them interactively. This tool is great for maintaining a clean and up-to-date package.json file, ensuring that your project stays current with the latest package versions.
npm-check-updates is another useful tool for managing npm dependencies. It focuses specifically on updating package versions in your package.json file. Unlike npm-check, which provides a broader range of checks, npm-check-updates allows you to quickly see which dependencies have newer versions available and update them with a single command. This tool is ideal for developers who want to keep their dependencies up to date without the overhead of additional checks.
npm-install-peers is a utility that automates the installation of peer dependencies for npm packages. Peer dependencies can often be overlooked, leading to potential issues in your project. npm-install-peers simplifies this process by automatically installing the required peer dependencies based on your package.json file. This tool is particularly useful for developers who want to ensure that all necessary dependencies are correctly installed without manual intervention.
npm-which is a command-line utility that helps you find the path of an executable in your npm environment. It is similar to the Unix which command, allowing you to determine where a specific command is located. This can be helpful for debugging and ensuring that the correct version of a tool is being used in your project.
npm-which is a Node.js package that helps developers locate the executable files for commands in the system's PATH. It is particularly useful in scenarios where you need to find the path of a command-line tool that is installed globally or locally. By providing a simple API, npm-which allows developers to easily check for the existence of commands and retrieve their paths, making it a handy tool for building command-line applications or scripts.
While npm-which is a great option for finding executables, there are several alternatives that offer similar functionalities:
command-exists is a lightweight package that checks if a command exists in the system's PATH. It provides a straightforward API to verify the presence of a command, making it easy to use in scripts or applications. If you are looking for a simple solution to check for command existence without additional features, command-exists is a solid choice.
cross-env is a package that allows you to set environment variables across different platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) in a consistent manner. While it doesn't directly find executables, it is often used in conjunction with other tools to ensure that environment variables are set correctly for command execution. If your project requires cross-platform compatibility for environment variables, cross-env is an essential tool.
env-paths is a utility that helps manage environment paths for different platforms. It provides a way to retrieve the appropriate paths for configuration files and executables based on the operating system. While it doesn't specifically locate executables like npm-which, it is useful for managing paths in a cross-platform manner, making it a valuable addition to your toolkit.
which is another popular package that finds the location of executables in the system's PATH. It offers a similar functionality to npm-which, allowing developers to locate commands easily. If you need a reliable solution for finding executables, which is a well-established choice in the Node.js community.
npm-check-updates is a command-line tool that allows developers to easily check for updates to their npm dependencies. It scans the package.json file and identifies which packages have newer versions available, providing a convenient way to keep your project dependencies up to date. This tool is particularly useful for maintaining the health of a project, ensuring that you are using the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches from your dependencies.
While npm-check-updates is a powerful tool for managing package updates, there are alternative tools available that serve similar purposes. Here are a few noteworthy alternatives:
npm-check is a utility that not only checks for outdated dependencies but also provides an interactive interface to manage them. It allows developers to see which packages are unused, outdated, or have newer versions available. With npm-check, you can easily update your dependencies directly from the command line, making it a great choice for developers who prefer a more hands-on approach to managing their packages.
yarn-upgrade-all is a command-line tool specifically designed for users of Yarn, a popular alternative to npm. This tool allows developers to upgrade all dependencies in their project to the latest versions with a single command. If you are using Yarn as your package manager and want a straightforward way to keep your dependencies up to date, yarn-upgrade-all is an excellent choice.
npm-check is a command-line tool that helps developers manage their npm packages more effectively. It allows users to check for outdated, unused, and incorrect dependencies in their projects. With npm-check, developers can easily identify which packages need to be updated, which ones are no longer in use, and ensure that their package.json file is accurate. This tool enhances the overall health of a project by keeping dependencies up to date and removing unnecessary packages, ultimately leading to better performance and maintainability.
One alternative to npm-check is knip. Knip is another tool designed to help developers manage their dependencies, focusing on identifying unused dependencies in a project. It scans the project's codebase and provides a report of packages that are no longer needed, allowing developers to clean up their package.json files. While both npm-check and knip serve similar purposes, knip is particularly focused on detecting unused dependencies, making it a great choice for projects that want to streamline their dependency management process.
npm-install-peers is a utility package designed to simplify the process of installing peer dependencies in a Node.js project. Peer dependencies are a special type of dependency that a package requires to function correctly but does not directly include in its own package. This can lead to confusion and manual work for developers, especially when managing multiple packages that rely on the same peer dependencies. npm-install-peers automates the installation of these peer dependencies, ensuring that your project has all the necessary packages installed without the hassle of manually checking and installing each one.
An alternative to npm-install-peers is install-peers. This package serves a similar purpose by automating the installation of peer dependencies in a project. It scans the package.json file and installs any missing peer dependencies, streamlining the setup process for developers. While both packages aim to solve the same problem, they may differ in terms of features, performance, and ease of use.
